Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Thriller

The cars in front of me stopped moving, slowly pressing on their brakes. I sighed, pressing my head on the steering wheel. The kids were home with my mom, and I had to get back soon. My mom had lived with us ever since Karen passed. My wife had been battling Stage 3 breast cancer. The last time I saw her was 3 years ago today. She looked me in my eyes with her dull, gray ones, and leaked a tear.
"Dave..." she had whispered, those eyes of hers gleaming in the hospital lights. "Cassendra, Lillie, Deandra, come here and sit with mommy." I said in a barely audible voice. I was hoarse from crying, and so was Karen. They were sobbing and crying, silently asking Karen to stay. "Mommy, why are you crying?" asked Cassie. She was only 3, not able to quite grasp what death was yet. Yet, she was crying too. "Cassie, mommy is going to go to heaven." Karen choked out. "Are you going to see Jesus there, mommy?" Asked Cassie. Her eyes gleamed as she spoke. "Yes, Cassie. Mommy is going to see Jesus in heaven." Karen replied. "Mommy, please don't leave. Please don't leave mommy, please!" Deandra said hoarsely. "De, mommy can't stay here with you anymore. You all know I'm very sick..." Karen whispered. "And I don't want to leave you girls. You were my blessings. My angels. You were the ones that kept me together, even when I began to fall apart." I let a choking sob, burying my face in my hands. Karen began again, saying, "I need you girls to trust in God, ok? Everything is going to be okay, even without me here with you... You all know I will never forget you, not even when I see Jesus, not even when I see the streets paved with gold." Lillie, the oldest, 7 at the time, said, "Mommy, I don't want you to go, not even with Jesus! I haven't even had my birthday yet. Please, mommy, you have to stay, I need you to stay- " Karen broke in. "Lillie, listen to me. I love you more then life itself. But God is calling me. I love you. Listen to me here, though- I promise you, you will move on. You probably will always miss me, loves. For a very long time, you will, believe me, sweetie. I am very sick. Please, though, don't be upset with me." Lillie sobbed when she said this. "I love you, mommy." The girls said. "I love you so much girls. I always will. Dave?" My wife said to me. The girls buried their faces in her blanket. I came over, and touched her face. "Dave." Karen began. "Dave, I love you so much. So much. So, SO MUCH, Dave. I'm so sorry for not being able to be there when you need me the most." She sighed. "Karen!" I said. "Karen, no, do not apologize to me. This was not your fault. Illness ran in your family. 
"I'm so sorry, Karen, that this happened to you." "I love you, Dave." 
"I love you too, Karen..."
I opened my eyes, and watched the traffic. Still no change. The cars were in the same place. I caught something from the corner of my eye. A speeding car.
Oh, my god.
It was a red Maximum. 
They were swerving right and left. I recognized it. A drunk. I knew because after Karen died, I drank. Too much for my daughters to see, too much of my grief. 
It was coming straight towards my car.
I woke up with a jolt. The cars were in the same place. No change. The traffic light had not even changed. I sighed with relief. I could go home. I could see my daughters! I was alive. 
And that was when I saw it. 
A drunk.
In a red Maximum.
Swerving badly, right to left. I glanced up. Traffic light was red. What was he doing?
He was heading straight towards my car.