Waiting Room — Robbie Cox

“Lisa, wait, slow down. What accident? What are you talking about?” She listened as Terry's sister told her about the truck flipping over and the rain-soaked road and Terry's speeding. The brakes locked and the Camaro started spinning out of control, right into the semi that flipped. The two vehicles smashed into each other, sending Terry's car into the ditch. She listened as Lisa rambled on, but all Donna saw was the pain on Terry's face when he left her house that night. It's my fault. This is all my fault. Lisa said it didn't look good. She didn't know the extent of his injuries, but everyone who looked at them, looked at them with pity, as if their future held a funeral.

Terry Michaels couldn't believe she was breaking up with him. Together for three years and now it was all over. His mind a jumbled chaos of emotions as he drove home, he didn't see the truck jack-knifing, didn't care that it was pouring, and drove even faster - too fast.

Now, his family, his friends, and even Donna, the girl who broke up with him, all huddle in the waiting room at Hospital General waiting to see if Terry is going to survive the accident or not. Donna wants a chance to get back with Terry, but what about all the other relationships in turmoil around them? Can't everyone just get along?

It doesn't look like it.

Waiting Room is a novelette, full story. One of Robbie's Lunch Break Reads.