The lonesome road was quiet, a little too quiet. That is, until the dark gray ford escort came flying down the street, not too fast, but nonetheless quick. The speakers in the small car were kicking with one of the latest bands. The driver, his hair long and tussled, was barely paying attention to the road. It didn’t matter too much. There were no other cars on the road. It was an unlit road but that’s okay.

“You’re taking over me--” he sung along with the CD. His voice, while not one normally used for singing, was not horrible. He could at least keep pitch fairly decently. He glanced up above the light over the dashboard. A Polaroid of him and an Indian woman wrapped in his arms at an black-tie event rested peacefully.

He smiled as he looked at the woman. Every time he looked at the picture, he couldn’t resist but smile and feel warm, regardless of the chill on his bare arms. He pushed the guitar away from him some, so that it wasn’t going to fall on him. He placed it in the driver’s seat because he was going to take it out of the car when he got out.

As he drove down the road, listening to the music, his thoughts wandering, another driver approached. Oddly enough, as if by chance, something jumped in the road. A deer! “Shit!” He yelled as he swerved to the right, trying to avoid the other car and the deer. His wheel suddenly jerked to the side and broke away. The car veered headlong off the side of the road and into a group of trees only to half submerge in mucky swamp water.

His head snapped up suddenly, he realized where he was. His body ached tremendously. The headlights were out and the engine had died. A broken tree pinned the door closed, he realized without even having to try the door. The car was filling with water as it slowly sank deeper into the mud. One thought traveled through his pain wracked body. The Phone.

He went to reach for his cell phone in his right cargo pocket. However, his arm failed him. He strained his neck to look. His arm was pierced by a large shard of glass, shattered from the windshield. The glass went all the way through his arm and out the back of the car-seat. The blood leaked down and mingled with the water. He grimaced and knew the outcome was bad. Suddenly, a cracking sound from above alerted him of pressing danger. He reached across with his left hand and grabbed the phone. He quickly dialed 911 and hit send.

As the phone message began, he tried to speak, but his throat was also incapable of use. He felt his head bleeding, but was unaware of what happened to his neck. The only thing that saved him then was that he knew that the 911 emergency could trace the call, and that he knew he would see his love again.

The tree, only being held by a thin branch, suddenly broke through and fell on top of the roof of the car, crushing it inward.

He awoke in a bright room. I must be dead he thought to himself. He breathed deeply and let out a sigh. Maybe his hopes were lost when the tree fell. Maybe it would be a long time till he saw his Love again.

His eyes blinked painfully. They were not adjusted to the light yet. As he breathed in, he smelled a familiar smell. It was like something he remembered from when he had his surgery done. That’s it! A hospital! He looked painfully around, trying to gather his whereabouts. The only thing that responded to his synapses was his eyes. They moved about slightly capturing only bits and pieces. The thing that gave him hope was the silhouette of his mother.

“….” he tried to speak “I….”. It exhausted him greatly to even speak one word. He gathered up his strength and whispered softly through misused vocal chords, “Trish”.

He awoke again, suddenly. His eyes jolted open, but quickly shut from the burning pain he received from the light. He heard then, what he longed to hear, for what seemed like an eternity. “Hey you” the voice called for him, through tears and joy.

He whispered back quietly “Hey”

“You’re finally awake”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been comatose for eight months.” she said painfully.

Finally, his eyes adjusted to the light. His body still ached, he assumed it was because he hadn’t used his muscles in a long time. He turned his head. There, next to him, clenching his hand tightly, was the woman he longed to see. His love, Trish. Her dark hair was short now and hung on her head tightly. It didn’t look right, but she was still as pretty as ever. She looked thinner. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Me?” she laughed a little through the pain.

“Yes. You seem different. I hope I didn’t scare you or anything”

“No. I’m better now.” He smiled weakly.

“Eight months?” he laughed a bit, but it caused him a lot of pain. He coughed violently. Something didn’t feel right about this he thought to himself.

“Yup.”

“You’ve been here the whole time.” he stated more than asked. He knew she was. He looked up at her.

“Why?” she asked quietly. He finally understood. A test perhaps? Who knows really.

“It’s like…” he breathed deeply, and motioned for a tissue. Trish quickly obliged. HE coughed slightly, then peered secretly into the tissue. Blood was spattered inside. He crumpled it and hid it in his bed. “No one ever really knows what they have until they lose it. This isn’t a particular incident, but you get what I mean?”

“I suppose” she said submitting.

“Trish” the man beckoned quietly.

“Yes?” She looked up, not sure of what he was going to say. Tears began to fill her eyes as she saw the look he was giving her. It wasn’t a pained look, and it wasn’t a sad or regretful look. It was love. His eyes were round and big, even through the red and dark circles. His smile, while thin and drawn, was still warm and joyful. It pained her to see him that way. She knew what was coming and what had happened. She couldn’t stand it.

“I Love You” She began crying and threw her arms around him. He grimaced a bit but then put his arms, albeit slowly, around her. “One more time” he whispered. “And everything will get better”

She lay his head back gently on the pillow. He smiled as he closed his eyes. She smiled too, as best as she could through the pain she suffered. It wasn’t fair if she wasn’t happy for him now. How could she be?

“ I love you” he whispered as he fell asleep.

“I will always love you too” No matter what.