Until Sunrise

“Where’s my girlfriend?” Ricky was pleading. “What happened here? Is my girlfriend all right? Flora!”

“Do you live here?” said the EMT guy.

Ricky looked helplessly at the EMT guy. “Why the hell is there an ambulance? Did something happen here?”

“Ricky O’Donnell?” asked the EMT guy.

“I’m Ricky. Yes, where is my girlfriend?”

“Your girlfriend was attacked by a man with a log of wood, where have you been?” said the EMT guy bluntly. Ricky stood still trying to figure out who could have attacked Flora. His eyes widened and sweat broke out on his forehead. He stared at the EMT guy. “Flora. Is she…..?”

The EMT guy watched Ricky carefully. “She is alive.” He said. He could see blood draining from Ricky’s face.

The door opened and the EMTs emerged, carrying a stretcher. The EMT guy got in the car and readied an IV bag.

“Flora.” Ricky cried.

Flora’s face was barely visible beneath the oxygen mask. She was covered to the neck with a Mylar blanket. The stretcher mattress, where it was visible was stained with blood stains. Ricky staggered toward the stretcher. He tried to reach her but the EMTs blocked him.

“You need to get out of the way sir.”

“I need to be with her. Flora.”