What a Day

The impact slammed his forehead violently into the top of the steering wheel.

His head was thumping aggressively when he pulled it back. The tree had stopped the car but the front did not look good. The wipers were still working however and they continued to temporarily clear the windshield unaware that their services might no longer be needed for a while. Doctor Jacob looked outside his window, trying to see something he could at least recognize. It was too dark to see anything. The never ending rain made it worse. He rubbed his head several times with one hand whilst the other groped around under his seat. He finally found the flashlight. He opened the door and stepped outside. He walked towards the bonnet, waving his flashlight in every direction. He could see several houses about a hundred to two hundred metres away. When he got to the front of the car he realized that there was not much damage. He opened it and smoke immediately steamed into his face. He took a step back and directed his flashlight inside. He returned after the smoke had dissipated and began searching inside.

He smiled. 'I'm sure you can still run, baby. You're gonna run for daddy, aren't you?' He closed the bonnet and headed back to the driver's side. As soon as he sat inside, he turned the ignition twice but the car coughed violently in response. 'Come on, baby, come on!' he tried to encourage it. He turned it for the seventh time but was just as unsuccessful. He leaned back into his seat. He decided to just turn on the headlights in case someone would wander by and offer him some assistance.

The headlights exposed a figure standing several yards from the car. Doctor Jacob squinted his eyes for a moment, trying to make sense of the figure. He opened his door and stepped out.

'Hey…hey! Do you think you can help me out here?' Doctor Jacob asked.

There was no reply from the stranger.

'Do you think you can help me out?!' he yelled, his voice trying to contest with the heavy rain. 'I had a pretty bad accident. I was on my way to Malrich Police Station but I veered off the road, and well…' he laughed briefly, 'here we are!'

The stranger just stayed still.

Doctor Jacob wiped the water from his face. His entire body was completely drenched. 'Can you hear me?!' he asked again drawing closer to the stranger. Doctor Jacob was relentless but cautious all the same. He continued to advance towards the stranger. He laughed, wiping more excess water from his face. 'You're leaving me hanging here, buddy,' he grinned in the direction of the stranger.

He finally stopped, about ten yards away. A few more steps and he would see who it was. He chose to play it safe and maintain a respectable distance. He sighed. 'Look, pal, I know you're probably wondering; "what's wrong with this guy, asking me, a stranger for help in the middle of a frighteningly heavy rainstorm in the middle of…".' Doctor Jacob stopped abruptly. His hands trembled furiously. His eyes were turned down. In the right hand of the stranger he could see something long, its tip resting on the ground.

The rains continued to pour heavily. There was no sound anywhere and no soul in sight. It poured and poured and did not stop. He could still hear the faint sound of the wipers, faithfully doing their job. What a day. What a day it had been.