DUI Case

POV: Harper

The sterile smell of antiseptic assaults my senses as I fight to blink away the haze of sleep that is tormenting me. My body is heavy, like a heavy weight was wraps around me like a tight blanket. Pain radiates through me, a dull throb that seems to pulse in time with my heartbeat. But amidst that pain, the first thought that pierces through the fog is primal and fierce: My baby.

“My baby!” I scream in panic, sound of my voice coming out so loudly that it hurt my throat. My hands fly to my abdomen, cradling the life that grows within me as I hoped and prayed that it is still there. I struggled to sit upright, and in my frantic attempts to sit up, pain flares through my body like wildfire. But I ignore it, desperate to ensure my baby is unharmed. I need to get up. I have to protect it, I have to protect the one thing that makes sense in my life right now, the one thing that makes me feel complete

I struggled to sit upright, but the pain was unbearable, my body is badly bruised and a little fractured. Suddenly, I feel arms enveloping me and I turned in his direction and saw him, Ethan. He’s here, he is sitting right by my side

Oh, thank God!

I lean into him as he wraps me tight against his body, his strong arms holding me in a protective manner, his heartbeat a comfort against my chaotic thoughts.

“You are fine, my love. Our baby is fine. Everything is going to be okay. I’m here now, I’m right here, my love.” His voice is a steady anchor amidst the turmoil, a lifeline thrown to me in the midst of my fears. He kisses my forehead, grounding me, and I let out a sob of relief, allowing my head to rest on his shoulder, letting the tears flow down my cheeks.

“I was so scared, Ethan! I thought I was going to die. I didn’t know what to think! I thought I would lose our baby!” The words tumble out of me, choked by my sobs, but he just holds me tighter, whispering nice, soothing words that wrap around my heart like a warm blanket.

“Shhhhh…” He hushes me softly, and I feel the gentle stroke of his hand on my back. It’s as if he’s willing the pain to go away, willing me to feel safe again.

“I’m here now, my love. You don’t have to be scared of anything. I will not leave your side. I will protect you and our baby.” He assured me, holding me in his arms. Tears stream down my cheeks at his promise, and I can’t help but let the emotions spill over. I’ve never felt so vulnerable, yet so loved at the same time. But then I look at him, really look at him, and sorrow fills his eyes as he notices the bruises covering my skin, memories of what happened to hurting us both and ruining the moment we share.

He is avoiding my eyes, and I could tell that he is thinking of the accident and the fact that he was the last person I tried to call, but he did not respond on time. That must have broken his heart, knowing that I was in pains and I really needed him to be there. But he wasn’t there for me, he was too busy with work and I nearly died. Where was he when I was dying, where was he when I really needed him?

“I’m so happy our baby is safe,” I say softly, clinging to him as if he’s the only thing pulling me to the world. I want to ask him why he didn’t take my calls on time, I want to ask him where he was when I got hit. I felt I was never going to see him or hear the heartbeat of my unborn child ever again.

“I don’t think I would have survived it if our baby had died. I would have died if I lost our precious baby.” I confessed, sobbing softly as I tried not to imagine how broken I would be right now if he had told me that I lost my baby. He looked at me, his eyes filled with passion as he smiled warmly,

He cradles me gently, kissing my forehead every chance he gets and pushing my hair to the back. His embrace was like a sanctuary that shields me from everything outside. I close my eyes and breathe in the familiar scent of him, trying to banish the shadows that creep into my mind—the questions clawing for attention, the nagging doubt that this wasn’t just an accident and where was my husband when I really needed him.

“What caused this tragic accident, Ethan? Why did the driver suddenly try to kill me?” My voice trembles as I feel reality crash over me like a wave. I was loosing sight of reality again, it felt like I was going to go unconscious again. But that wasn’t it, I was Sinking back into my memory, like a flashback. I recall the flash of headlights and the sense of impending doom that cloaked me, making me as stiff as a stature.

“It was a drunk driver,” he replies, his voice low and steely as he tried to curb his anger as he said those words. I could see through him, and I could tell that he is trying so hard to control his temper.

“He was driving under the influence of alcohol. He was so drunk that he couldn’t even remember his name when the cops caught him. But don’t worry, my love, I will make sure he pays with his blood for hurting you and nearly killing my unborn child.” he promised. The fervor in his voice sends a chill across my skin, and I know he means every word. For his sake, I hope the driver skips town before Ethan gets to him because he may not live to tell the story.

I know Ethan said it was just a DUI case, But within me, I have this feeling that things aren’t as simple as that. The road was quiet; why was a truck driving there?

Why had the driver targeted me?

And why the hell was Ethan called away that morning?

What was so important that he had to be called to work so early in the morning, right before my first prenatal examination. My heart begins to race again, the questions circling back and forth. No matter how I try to shake off that feeling, it refused to go away, it was so persistent, like a dense fog clinging to my mind like the bandages wrapped around my body.

I close my eyes against the rising tide of anxiety, wanting desperately for it all to just fade. There’s a tapping at the door as the doctors enter, their movements brisk and professional as they begin their tests. I feel detached, as if I’m observing an unfamiliar scene. I felt like I was drowning in my thoughts, there are so many unanswered questions in my head and I may just go crazy if I don’t get the answers soon.

All the while, Ethan remained beside me, spoon-feeding me a bit of yogurt, his concern evident in every careful gesture. He made sure I have everything I need, refusing the maids to touch me so I don’t get hurt. He volunteered to do everything for me, pampering me like never before.

I wish I could just forget about the many questions in my head and just accept this to be a DUI case like he said. But with every passing moment, my realization settles darker in my chest. Despite the calm that Ethan instills in me, I can’t shake the feeling that this was more than just an accident. It is a thread I’m determined to pull at, no matter the unraveling cost.

“You need to get some sleep, Ethan. You look so stressed, my love.” I told him after he fed me and helped me lie down on the bed, cuddling me to sleep. I was administered a light dose of morphine and I can feel it kicking in.

As the sedatives kick in and sleep begins to tug at me again, I cling to my husband, seeking solace in the fact that my baby is safe and I am alive too. In the quiet of my mind, I vow to uncover the truth behind what happened, no matter how treacherous the path ahead may be. I don’t care if alcohol or even hard drugs was found in the blood test of the truck driver, I still think there is something I’m missing in this case.

I wished to speak with the truck driver myself, I wish to interview him because my mind will not be at rest until I uncover the mysteries surrounding my accident. II nestle closer to Ethan, allowing the drugs to lull me to sleep, finding comfort in the promise of a new dawn, a resolve to fight for my baby, for our family.

Before I knew it, I was fast asleep and back on the road with Ethan’s driver again. Even in my sleep, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was being watched. I was taken back to the scene of the accident and in my sleep, I tried to look around, looking for a clue, something I might have seen that I thought was unimportant at that time.

But I saw nothing…

It was just my mind playing tricks on me, taking me back to the scene that I am trying so hard to forget. I saw the truck coming at me with speed and I screamed at the top of my voice, calling out Ethan’s name.