"Help me, Please!"
The terror in her voice split the night air. The blue of her eyes seemed ablaze. The car had come to a stop 30 feet off the road, the lights still on, smoke wafting from under the hood.
I had seen it as I came around the curve, had hit my brakes to avoid her standing, waving frantically. I pulled over and was out of the car as she came running.
"He's trapped! I can't get the door open!"
Now I was at the SUV, crumpled against the rock. It wouldn't budge, and the man seemed unconscious. The smoke wasn't from a busted radiator. The car was on fire under there, and I had to get him out. Spotting a good-sized rock, I lifted it over my head and smashed the passenger window.
"Hurry, Please!" she cried. The button gave when I yanked and I climbed in, reached by his side and unsnapped the seat belt, felt around for the recliner lever. Where was it? Got it! Yanked, and the seat fell back on me.
I scrambled out, the heat was intensifying. I grabbed under his arms and yanked. His body moved, but he was pretty big. I braced on the frame with my legs and hauled for all I had. He was sliding now, and I kept moving, away from the burning vehicle, with her pulling, too. Black smoke filled the SUV and poured from the open door, circling, then drifting into the sky as the sounds of sirens filled the night.
I woke up in the back of the ambulance, sat up with a start, but the EMT had me tight, and it all came back in a rush. I must have gotten a few lungfuls of that black smoke, and passed out.
They kept me overnight, for observation. Cops took my statement, someone from the local paper wanted a story: Hero Saves Man From Burning Car, that kind of shit. I declined. I only did what anyone would do. The paper wrote it anyway, but with less fanfare since I wouldn't go along with it.
I asked about the guy. The nurses claimed confidentiality prohibited giving any info, but on the side, they said he had a few cracked ribs, and would pull through.
We all know what health care costs, so I was ready to get out as soon as possible to minimize the financial damage. The nurses assured me that all my expenses were covered, hinting at my SUV guy.
By 2PM the next day, I was going stir-crazy. A bit of a headache, nothing unusual they said. I could have a headache at home just as well! they said maybe tomorrow and if I checked myself out before they released me, I could pass out while driving. So I ordered lunch, watched game shows. I hate game shows.
They woke me at 7AM. If the doctors said okay, I would be released at 10AM. They checked the basics, blood pressure, breathing, looked into my eyes. I was dressed and seated, waiting for the okay.
At 10:30, I began to worry, then she came in. I had almost forgotten her. The blue eyes brought it all make so clearly, but the fear was gone, only a warmth and serenity.
"Hello, Mr. Rust, it's good to see you under better circumstances." She held out her hand, and shook mine warmly.
"Hi," I stuttered. "How..how is he?"
"Thanks to you, he'll be coming home in a week or so. He's pretty banged up and sore, but alive. Thanks to you." She smiled broadly.
"That's great to hear. How about you? Are you okay?"
"Me? I'm fine, a few cuts and scrapes, but you two were breathing that awful smoke in, that's what put you here, they tell me. So, are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, just waiting for the okay," I said.