Day 32/366

Genevieve had waited at the restaurant for nearly twenty minutes, growing more concerned as the time passed.  Her dad was a stickler for being prompt, but he was also a pastor.  Something could have come up last minute, and if he didn't need to cancel he'd just be a little late.  Then she heard the ambulance as it went by, lights flashing and siren screaming--and she knew.

Rushing out to her car, she struggled to unlock the door with shaky hands, but she made it inside and tore out of the gravel parking lot.  The accident site was just around the first bend in the road, and the sight of her father's car, upside down in a water filled ditch, caused her stomach to lurch and her eyes to fill.

Gen slammed the car door, not caring that it caught on her seatbelt buckle and bounced open again.  She ran to the car, only to have two strong arms grab her around the middle and hold on tight.  "No, Gen, you can't go over there."

She struggled.  "Let me go, Zach!  That's my dad over there!"  She clawed at his arms, but his hold remained tight.  "Please, let me go to him.  He's all I have left."

The paramedic released a deep sigh that became a groan.  "Gen, you don't need to see him like this.  Trust me, please?"

Gen stilled, then whispered, "What if he needs me?"  She felt Zach' s arms release and took advantage, rushing to the overturned vehicle.  Her frantic gaze searched for her father's jet black curly hair, then spotted him, his head angled toward the murky water...

And his body underneath the car.  "Oh, God...please..."

All words are the property of Deena Peterson and not to be used without permission.