Love Resolution

The ugly gash over Avery’s right eye was bleeding profusely. Trembling, Marcus touched her face. She didn’t respond. He quickly drew his cotton t-shirt over his head and pressed it against the wound. With his other hand, he slid his cell out of his pocket.

“911. How may I assist you?”

“I’ve been in a car accident!” he choked out, fear gripping his throat. “My fiancée’s hurt. She’s unconscious and she’s bleeding!”

“We’ll send someone right away. What’s your location?”

The fumes of spilled gasoline made his eyes water as he peered out through the shattered rain soaked front windshield and squinted to read the street sign. “Western Avenue and Lenora.”

“Help’s on the way. Stay on the line.”

“I will.” He stared at Avery again. She was so pale. “Please hurry.”

Fear and self-recrimination consumed him. Cradling her face, he breathed a soft prayer. After what seemed like an eternity, a squad car rolled up alongside them. Two officers jumped out of the vehicle, hurrying to either side of the wrecked Jaguar.

One of them opened the driver’s side door. “I’m Officer Garza. You ok, sir?”

“I think so.”

“Can you get out of the car?”

“Yes.” Marcus undid his seatbelt. “But my fiancée’s hurt.”

The patrolman’s dark brows drew together. Lips flattened in a concerned line, he passed a glance to his partner. “Tung. Can you get in on that side?”

“The door’s buckled,” the other officer replied, after a few hard tugs. “I can’t get it open. I’ll get the pry bar.”

“An ambulance is on the way,” Garza told Marcus.

Marcus managed to nod, his stomach rolling as he realized that the t-shirt he held over her forehead was soaked with blood. A wave of panic engulfed him. Finally, the sound of a siren reached his ears.

The metal creaked and groaned as Officer Tung finally broke the jammed door loose. Two EMT’s jogged up with a stretcher.

The EMT’s quickly assessed Avery before placing a cervical collar onto her neck and carefully extracting her from the wreckage.

As soon as they loaded her limp body onto the stretcher, Marcus threw open his door to follow. He swayed unsteadily on his feet, reaching a hand back to the wet car to keep from falling.

By now a small group of onlookers had gathered to gawk.

Suddenly, Officer Garza appeared at his side. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You been drinking tonight?”

Shit. The blood drained from his face.

Garza didn’t wait for a response. “I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask you to step over to the squad car for a breathalyzer test.”

“No.” Marcus shook his head, watching the ambulance doors close, an ominous feeling washing over him. He took a step toward it, but the officer moved to block him.

“Sir, I can’t let you leave the scene.”

“She’s my fiancée. Please let me go with her,” Marcus pleaded, freezing rain soaking his torso and trickling down into the waist band of his jeans.

“Sir, I’m placing you under arrest for suspicion of DUI. Now put both hands on the hood of the car,” he ordered, producing a set of handcuffs.

“The name’s Marcus,” he said with gritted teeth, dragging frozen fingers through his wet hair. Helplessly, he watched as the ambulance drove away. “Marcus Anthony.”