Page 12

There must be someone looking out for me, because this time the thing sputters to life.

“I’m so getting rid of you,” I growl at my truck and throw it in reverse so I can get the hell out of here before the thing decides to die on me again.

The drive home is slow, the rain coming down hard, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet in front of me.

“Is this a joke?” I groan, bringing the truck to a stop. “Someone is playing a sick joke on me right now.” I sigh heavily, letting my head fall back against the headrest.

Rain pelts against the windshield, and my high beams illuminate the bridge in front of me and the road that is currently under a foot of water.

It’s not the only way home, but it means I have to turn around and head back ten minutes in the direction I just came.

Ten minutes in this weather is more like an hour.

“God, if you’re listening,” I say aloud as I put the truck in reverse and very carefully turn around. “Whatever I did, I’m sorry. Can we please stop with this string of bad luck?”

Maybe I’m being a tad dramatic. This kind of weather isn’t uncommon for Stonehead Creek. Especially in the summer.

But add this to all the other shitty things that happened to me this week, like my truck breaking down again, needing a new battery, my washer and dryer dying on me, Luna getting out and breaking her paw jumping off a tree, and causing my credit card to be maxed out, again, and I’m over it.

It’s like every time I get that thing paid off, and I think maybe, just maybe I can start saving, something else happens.

The first time I start to nod off, I curse at myself. I’m beyond exhausted, my eyes sting, and it’s taking everything in me to stay awake.

It doesn't help that the sound of rain is one of my go-to comfort sounds to put me to sleep.

Despite it already being cold out, I blast the AC, hoping the bite of cool air will help keep me up. I turn the radio on and blast the music, too, for good measure.

Shaking my head, I sing along to the song. More like scream along to it, trying really fucking hard not to nod off again.

Relief fills me when I spot the road sign for my turn. Just as I’m about to flick on my turn signal, out of nowhere, a deer sprints into the middle of the road.

With less than a second to react, I let out a blood-curdling scream, my eyes widening in horror as I slam on the brakes.

It’s a bad idea, I know it as soon as I do it.

But with my brain already a bit hazy and only having a split second to make a decision, there’s not much else I can do.

I wait for the impact that would most likely cause me to meet my maker, but it doesn't come.

Because of the water flooding the road, my truck hydroplanes, causing me to spin around, the tail end of my truck hitting the deer before nose-diving into a ditch and crashing right into a tree.

My body jerks forward just for the airbag to punch me in my chest.

I let out a pained whimper as I’m forced back, my head hitting the headrest.

Ringing fills my ears as my head spins and my body begins to ache.

I try to think, to react, but I’m too out of it.

“We should get her to the fucking hospital.”

The sound of voices breaks through the ringing in my ears, and I try to force my eyes open.

Hospital? No. No, I don't want to go there. I hate hospitals.

“She’s fine,” another one grumbles. “Nothing's broken. She just hit her head.”

“She could have a concussion,” the first voice insists.