Twitter

Sunday, January 1, 2012

The Unexpected

Here is scenario for your next book:

It's New Year's Eve. A lovely young widow dressed up for her New Year's Eve party. She's been invited by her friends, a nice couple who loves her dearly, to a BYOB and an appetizer or dessert gathering in the lounge of their building. She lives not too far, and the fifteen minutes drive along the one-lane busy road is a familiar path she uses every day.

Ready in a black silk skirt, sequin shirts, and matching high-heel sandals, she grabs a black shawl and a small evening purse. On second thought, she stuffs the small purse and shawl into a larger bag containing her keys, wallets, ids,..

After ten minutes, the traffic slows, almost bumper to bumper, then jerks and moves, and slows and moves. She'll be  late but doesn't worry too much about it. Finally, the cars ahead speed, so to speak, to twenty-five miles speed. Suddenly the car in  front of her stops. Marie slams on the break too. The car behind her bumps against her SUV and sends her barrelling into the front one.
It all happens so fast. The safety bags open, hit her face, and suffocate her. She can't breathe, she can't turn her head, she can't move. Oh God, am I going to die, she prays as the world turns black around her.

"Ma'am, can you hear me?" She opens an eye. Someone knocks on her side window. She can't move, and gasps for air, but one balloon presses hard against her open mouth, and the other against her stomach.

"Help is coming." Someone opens the passenger door and crawls next to her to undo her seat belt, and then crashes the safety balloon. A white vapor wafts to her mouth. She coughs and groans. "Help me, help me, please."

A policeman pulls the key stuck in the starter. Another opens the driver door. "Ma'am, can you go out?"

She can't feel her legs, and keeps coughing. A paramedics holds her head, immobilizes it with a neck brace, and lays her on her back. "It's okay, we'll get you out." Three men slide her out of the car and onto a stretcher that they move to an ambulance.

"What's you name?"
"Marie."
"Last name, date of birth, social security?"
Her eyes close, she tries to remember, but can't.
"Do you have a purse?"
"Yes."
"Okay, we'll find it. Do you have shoes?"
"Shoes?" She can't remember.
At ER, they try to move her, she screams in pain. A nurse gives her an injection. "It's morphine. You'll sleep and be fine while we take x-rays."

Meanwhile at the party her friend calls her on her cell phone and at home every half an hour. "Something must have happened to Marie."

The next morning a nurse explains: "You have three broken ribs, a broken vertebra, and a broken scapula. Maybe more. A doctor should come to see you. Be patient, it's the New Year. Happy New Year, Marie." The nurse brings her the purse and gives her the cell phone with a dozen anxious messages.

She calls her friend and apologises for missing the party.
 "I'm coming right away," says her friend.

This is a true story that happened last night. Marie was coming to a party in my building.

35 comments:

Maeve Greyson said...

What a chilling post, Mona. A good reminder that we must cherish every minute since you never know what could happen.

Nightingale said...

Oh,Mona. So sorry.

Mona Risk said...

Hi Maeve, I can't stop crying. We don't know yet what is the outcome of the MRI. I just pray she can walk again and nothing affected the spinal cord.

Mona Risk said...

Oh Linda, it's been a lousy party last night, and a worst day today.

Mary Marvella said...

Goodness. Scary and a reminder of what can happen in s second.

Beth Trissel said...

Oh my. I didn't realize air bags were that bad. I thought it would have protected her better. Did she suffer a concussion--lack of oxygen? What accounts for the memory loss? Is she better now? Will she be OK? How awful. I'm so sorry. Will pray for her. Please keep us posted.

Mona Risk said...

Mary, it's so horrible. Our whole group of friends here is devastated.

Jill James said...

Mona, a chilling reminder that there are no small accidents. This is why I drive a tank (SUV). That and I'm so short that I love a big vehicle so I can see around me.

So sad that she had such big injuries from what sounds like a small accident.

Prayers and warm thoughts for your friend.

Mona Risk said...

Hi Beth, we have no answers yet. No doctors came to see her yet. It's New Year day. But she had the MRI done, so we are waiting. I'll be going to see her first thing tomorrow. She's not only a good friend, but the lady who took care of my mother with me the last year of Mom's life. Mom used to call her, her third daughter.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Our lives can change in a heartbeat. How scary for your friend--and all her friends who worried over her.

Lilly Gayle said...

Ironic how someone can survive a high-speed crash with barely a scratch while others are severely injured in a low impact collision. So many factors come into play--angle, body position, timing. I just pray your friend makes a full recovery.

Sending you hugs and hope, Mona.

Calisa Rhose said...

So sad to think an innocent night can end so frighteningly! Thank you for sharing Mona. I pray she heals quickly!

Nancy Jardine Author said...

What an awful start to a New Year. My best wishes for your friend's full recovery.

Mona Risk said...

Still be careful Jill. My friend was driving an SUV.

Mona Risk said...

Yes Vonnie. It's also a good lesson for us writers not to daydream our next scene while driving. I often do that.

Mona Risk said...

Hi Lilly, who are we to question God's will. I hope something good will come out of that accident.

Mona Risk said...

Hi Calisa, the ironic and sad part is that my husband often says he doesn't like to drive far on New Year's Eve because there are too many drunken people and too many accidents. We chose to stay in our building because it was so convenient and close enough to the five people we've invited.

Mona Risk said...

Thank you Nancy. If there is no permanent damage, she'll recover with a good therapy.

Unknown said...

Mona--I'm so very sorry. You just never know what will happen next. Thank God she wasn't paralyzed.

Beth Trissel said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Beth Trissel said...

Mona, let us know how she is today and give her my love and prayers. You are a dear friend to me and anyone that kind and close to you matters to me as well. Especially someone who helped you with your mom.

Lynn Chantale said...

Wow. I'm glad she's safe and alive. Sending warm thoughts for a speedy recovery.

Mona Risk said...

Hi Celia, we hope that she's not paralysed. So far she hasn't been able to stand of her feet, but maybe it's from the pain.

Mona Risk said...

I will sure let you know the progress, Beth.

Mona Risk said...

Thank you Chantal.

Mary Ricksen said...

I'm glad she's survived it and I wish her the very best!

Maggie Toussaint said...

That's so eerie, and so much damage from a low impact crash. Your friend Marie is going to need all your love and support to get through this. It sounds so unfair.

Jill James said...

Thanks Mona. I try to be very careful everytime I drive, it is scary out there. My mom used to drive a Miata and I was in deathly fear that some big car would just drive right over her.

Toni Lynn said...

Oh, gosh, Mona. So sorry to hear about your friend. I'll keep her and her family in my prayers.

Did they say the cause of the accident...drunk driver, weather,etc?

Ilona Fridl said...

Mona, seems like so many bad things happen when people go out on New Years Eve. That's why we always stay home to celebrate.

Lynne Marshall said...

Oh my gosh, Mona - you completely captivated me with retelling this story. I thought you were going to say it was an excerpt from one of your books.

I hope Marie is healing more each day, and that she'll be back to good health ASAP. I'm sure you'll be looking over her.

Lousy way to start the New Year, though.

Lilly Gayle said...

Mona,
Not to start a philosophical or religious debate or anything but I just don't believe it was God's will for your friend (or anyone) to be in an accident.

Sometimes, accidents happen. And it wasn't God's will that I got breast cancer. It was a mutated gene from environmental exposure or just a bad family gene that decided to show up in mean. I never asked why. It just happened. God didn't do it. But he did save my live.

I don't think it was God's will that anyone was in an accident that night. But it was God's will that your friend survived. It was His will that I survived.

God created this awesome, interconnected universe. Every thing affects everything else. And God created physics and biology and germs that all serve a purpose. Then he stepped back to watch from a distance--a distance easily bridged through prayer and faith.

God doesn't Will bad things to happen, but if we call out to him, believing, he will answer. If it HIS will, he will intervene, changing the course or direction of our lives or an event.If it is not his will to change the course or outcome of an event, HE is there to provide comfort and peace. And sometimes, if it be HIS will, he will intervene to save us when we don't think to ask or don't believe.

Matthew 4:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

And bad things happen to the just and the unjust. But the just have God to rely upon. The unjust have only themselves.

Sorry. I'll step down off my soapbox now. I hope I didn't offend. I'm just very sensitive about this subject after hearing sooooo many people tell me it was God's will that I got breast cancer. NOT! It was his will that I survived.

Mona Risk said...

Mary R, Maggie, Jill, Toni, Ilona, Lynne, thank you for your concern. I will write her latest news in a new post.

Mona Risk said...

Oh Lilly, I completely agree with you. I believe in God's goodness. Something good will come out of this mess. So many people are praying for Marie.
You cancer healed and your attitude helped a lot of people Lilly. Thank you for taking the time to explain your believes. I share them.

Lilly Gayle said...

I'm so glad you didn't take offense! I agonized over posting that comment. Thank you for understanding.

And I pray your friend WILL make a full and complete recovery!