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Maya
Ineededtogetout of here. I knew I should have left with Matt and Alex. Since we wrapped earlier than planned, they decided to make the drive back to Denver before the snow started falling.
A glance out the window and could barely see further than his driveway; the snowflakes were falling with an intensity I hadn't seen before. The snow stacking up on the grass told me I didn’t have much time to make my escape either.
I wasn’t even sure why I’d stayed behind. I guess I did want to talk to Jack and apologize for how the interview went. I touched a nerve with my last question and if I was being honest with myself, I knew I would when the words were forming on my lips. I knew it was crossing a boundary, but part of meneededto cross it. I needed to know who Jack was now. Today. Not seven years ago.
I hiked my tote bag on my shoulder and walked toward the door, barely cracking it open, when I felthim. He surrounded me as he pushed the door shut, his large hand next to my head.
I just stared at the door. I felt overwhelmed by him and his fresh scent. His lips were right next to my ear, and it wasn’t even fair as to how that made me feel.
"Maya, I don’t think it’s safe for you to leave in this weather. Stay a little longer, at least until visibility is better.” His voice was low and almost toneless, but I risked a glance back at his face and could tell by the look in his eyes that he was genuinely worried.
He lowered his hand and moved back a fraction of an inch. Not nearly enough space for me to regain my sanity. Something between us shifted and his warm breath on my neck was enough to make my traitorous body take notice. I felt a chill run down my spine, but tried to tell myself it was just from the cold draft of the air seeping through the door.
Though there was barely enough space, I turned around, my back touching the cold door. I looked up into Jack’s face, emotionless as ever, but with his hands facing me, as if in surrender.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I rasped. “I really should go home.”
I didn't want to admit it, but I was afraid of what might happen if I stayed. Jack was an enigma, and I didn't know if I could handle being alone with him any longer.
Jack's face remained stoic, but I could see the muscles in his jaw work as he clenched, grinding his molars together. It was obvious he was annoyed. Another emotion that I couldn’t quite put my finger on radiated from him like a hot fire.
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stay. With one small nod, I turned, gently bumping him out of the way, and pulled the door open. A gust of wind caught the door and pushed it in, me along with it, but I powered through and walked out into the blustery, snowy cold afternoon. The clouds had darkened the sky, making it feel like night already.
But if I left right now, I could make it close enough to Denver by almost dark. So I stomped in the fresh snow to my car, fighting with the wind to open the door.
As I made my way down Jack’s steep, winding driveway, my hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. The snow was coming down harder now, making it difficult to see. I was about halfway down when my car hit a patch of ice hidden under the snow and swerved hard to the right. I took my foot off the gas and kept the steering wheel straight, but it was too late. The car slid nose-first down the embankment next to the pavement for an impossibly long time before slamming into a tree, deploying the airbag, and flattening my back to the seat.
As the airbag deflated, I sat there, stunned, hearing nothing but silence as the snow continued to fall around me. I knew I needed to call for help, but, picking it up, found it didn't have a signal.
Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to calm myself. I looked back but couldn’t quite see Jack’s cabin from here.
“You’re okay. You’re okay.”I kept chanting to myself.
I tried to open the door, but it was jammed shut.
Panic set in as I realized I was stranded in the middle of nowhere, alone and helpless. The knowledge that Jack probably didn’t care if I lived or died at the moment didn’t bring any comfort. I leaned my head back against the seat, closing my eyes and taking deep breaths to calm myself down.
After a few minutes–possibly the longest minutes of my life–I heard a gentle tap on the window and shrieked in surprise.
Jack
It had only been a few moments since I’d heard the crash.
A chill had run down my spine as I frantically stuffed my feet into my boots and started running down the hill as fast as the snow and ice would let me.
When I got closer and saw Maya sitting motionless, her head leaned back, panic twisted, hot and painful, in my chest. I practically fell down the embankment trying to get to her.
In my head, a very different scene was unfolding. Screeching tires, breaking glass, crushing metal, and a painful scream. I tried to swallow past the excruciatingly painful lump in my throat, pushing back the hot tears that threatened to fall.
My heart pounded, blood rushing in my ears. I closed my eyes briefly, trying to push away the memory. But all I could see was smoke rising from the wreckage. I could see her lifeless face and body, lying on the ground, having been thrown from the car. I couldn't protect her. It all came rushing back and the crushing weight of guilt reared its ugly head again and landed directly on my chest.
My eyes snapped open, and I realized that I had been holding my breath. Tears streamed down my face, and my body shook with emotion.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and forced myself to focus on the present. I couldn't change the past, and I couldn't bring her back. But I could help Maya.
I tapped on her window and stumbled back slightly in the snow when she shrieked.
