Attempted Escape

Abby's heart pounds fiercely against her chest, and her head swims. She looks over to see the semi is just a short distance away. She glances back at the tiny opening between the door and the frame. Realizing she can't squeeze through, she crawls over her seat only to find the passenger door blocked, too. 

Remembering the side door, she climbs over the center console to the back. With trembling hands, she reaches for the door. The diesel is now just a few feet away. Opening the door, she looks down to find a huge gap in the road below her. I can do this, she thinks. Taking a big breath of courage, she jumps. Her vehicle teeters from the shift. The pavement gives away a little more. 

The diesel barrels over the gap into the van as she lands on solid ground. That was close, she thinks, glancing back at her demolished van. The totality of the situation hits her. "My van is totaled," she thinks, falling against the dirt. "What am I going to do now? Oh, what am I going to do?" She cries.

"You barely made it out of there alive."

Startled, Abby jumps. She looks up to find a well-dressed gentleman standing over her. He's wearing a light blue suit with an off-white, freshly pressed button-up shirt underneath. A baby blue tie hangs loosely around his neck. His fancy black dress shoes shine from this morning's polish. She glances up at him, the van, and then the stranger again. The totality of her situation hits her; she bursts into tears. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know what am I going to do." She sobs

"There, there, now. It'll all work out for the best somehow, I promise." He says, plopping down beside her. 

"I don't know how it could get any worse. I've lost my job, my home, and now my van," she bawls.

John's heart melts—how it always does when he sees a woman in distress. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he pulls her close.

Abby gets a strong whiff of his cologne when she falls against him. The spicy scent brings back a happy memory of her foster dad, Fred. He was the only one who truly cared about her, loved and accepted her for who she was. He became gravely ill, stage four cancer, they said. Seeing he couldn't take care of himself, let alone a child, DFS set her to live somewhere else, a hell-hole of a place that she ran away from the very next day.

"It sounds like you've had it rough the past few weeks."

"You don't know the half of it." She sobs. 

 "That's it; let it all out," John replies, gently rubbing her back.

After crying for a bit, Abby wipes the tears from her face, looks up, and says, "I usually don't fall apart like this, but..." She glances at the van. The waterworks begin again.

"It's alright, I understand. A near-death experience can be very traumatic, especially after everything you've already been through."

"You're so sweet to comfort me this way," she blubbers.

"I know what it's like to be down on your luck, feeling lost and alone."

Abby pulls away. "You, but you look so put together, so successful."

He laughs. "It took me a long time and a lot of bad choices to get where I am today." He wipes the tears from her face before he continues. "I'm sure all your troubles will lead you to where you need to be, too."

"What... What do you do?"

"I'm an injury lawyer. I got into an accident and needed an attorney. Long story short, I couldn't afford one, so I got screwed. That's when I decided to help others in the same predicament."

"That's very noble of you." She hiccups.

He smiles. "I don't know about being noble, but it pays the bills. May I ask where you were heading?"

"I was going to stay with a friend. She said I could live with her until I get back on my feet, but I can't get there now," Abby says, pointing to her van.

"I'm sure we can figure out something. My name is John, by the way." He extends his hand.

"My name is ...." She tries to remember what her new identity says. Unable to recall, she says, "Nice to meet you, John."

John points to the top of her scalp. "You have a little gash on the side of your head."

Abby feels the cut. "It's nothing."

"I know you think that, but it wouldn't hurt to get it checked out."

"I appreciate your concern. Really, I do, but I'll be alright." Abby wobbles back and forth when she stands.

John grabs her before she falls. "I see how alright you are."

"I was just a little dizzy, probably stood up too fast, but I'm fine now." She takes a step to prove it and stumbles again.

Hearing sirens, John looks over to find an ambulance heading their way. "It looks like they arrived just in time."

Abby gazes down the road. "I... I'm sure others need their attention worse than me."

"At least let me take you to the hospital to get checked out."

A horrid thought flashes through her mind. What if John is a serial killer or a rapist in search of his next victim? He's too nice-looking to be either of them. Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dahmer weren't exactly ugly. "I ah..."

A young girl runs up to them. "Dad, the office wants to talk to you." She hands him a phone.

"Duty calls." He smiles, taking the cell from his daughter. "Hello. There's been an accident on the freeway." Glancing over at Abby, he whispers, "My secretary." "No, I'm fine. I'll be in as soon as I can. Please reschedule my appointments and cancel the board meeting." "Thanks, Mary, you're the greatest." Hanging up, he turns towards Abby. "She's like a second mom to me. More so now since my wife passed."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"It was a blessing, really. Laura suffered so much at the end. Enough about me. Let's get you taken care of." He puts his arm around her.

She pulls away. "I'm fine, really, John."

"No, she's not, Dad. She almost fell twice while you were on the phone."

Abby glares at the child. 

The girl gives her a smug look.

Seeing the exchange, John laughs."Come on, Miss Stubborn, let's go." He leans over and whispers. "This is your chance to get away before the cops arrive." Seeing the expression on her face, he chuckles. "I've been a lawyer for a while now and can read people well. You can tell me your story on the way. Hopefully, I can figure out a way to help you." He grabs her arm.

Abby pulls away. "You ... you won't..."

"Don't worry; we won't say a word. Right, Carly."

"My lips are sealed." She pretends to zip her mouth.

"I need to get a few things from the van." She takes a step and stumbles.

"How about I get them for you?"