Tuesday Tales: From the Word Cushion

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales, the blog where a small group of authors share their work with you. Each week, we write to a word of picture prompt. I’m currently working on a Holiday Romance entitled Forever in my Heart.

Since I’m a visual person, I like having my covers early since I find they inspire me. Enjoy.

“Carson,” Jacob called to the EMT. “This is his brother.”

“You’re Mike?” the man asked. “Thank God! He keeps asking for you. I gave him enough pain medication to stop a bull moose in his tracks—geez, I can’t believe I was crass enough to say that. I had a hard time getting him to settle down.” The EMT shook his head. “I’m sorry but there’s no way to cushion this. His chances aren’t good. In fact, I don’t know what the hell is keeping him here. When the vehicle hit the wall, it sent the engine into the front seat, crushing his legs, pelvis, lower spine and abdomen. The pain he feels is from the broken arms and crushed ribs as well as damage to his upper organs. One lung has collapsed, and he’s bleeding internally. Judging by the amount of red on the seat, not all his, I know, but … you can ride with us.”

The paramedics loaded the stretcher into the ambulance and strapped it down.

Mike grabbed the side of the ambulance for leverage and pulled himself inside. He might be a veterinarian, but he’d seen more than his fair share of bad vehicle accidents as a volunteer firefighter in Timberton.

Carl touched his shoulder, the sorrow in his eyes saying it all.

“I’m sorry, Mike. They’re taking them both to Calgary. It’ll be a hell of a drive, but no place around here can deal with it, and there’s no way the helo can land in this crap. I’ll talk to Lucy. Don’t worry about anything.”

“Thanks.” He settled on the chair at his brother’s head, its cushion frozen solid and rock hard, while the paramedic finished securing the ambo. Someone shut the doors.

Mike looked down at his twin brother. The face he knew as well as his own was blood covered, both eyes swollen shut. He reached out to take his hand, thought better of it in case it was broken, like so much of him was, and just touched the back of it instead.

The truth hit him with a pain all its own. Luke wasn’t going to make it through this. How would he ever manage without the other half of himself?

“Mike?” The word was spoken so softly, he’d almost missed it.

“I’m here, Luke.” His own voice was hoarse, filled with pain.

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales