Don't Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!

The fog was so thick that night, Jessica felt as if she were driving through cotton. It seemed to muffle everything; the car headlights, her sense of direction, even her common sense. 

It was the kind of fog that made driving down Franklin Avenue that night suddenly feel eerie; almost otherworldly. 

She gripped the wheel tighter and muttered under her breath.

"Damn, it's spooky out here. I really need to lay off those darn zombie apocalypse movies. I'm creeping myself out."

She tried to force a laugh, pretending to be more at ease than she actually felt. Nearly thirty minutes after leaving the club, the loud throbbing music was still pounding in Jessica's ears.

Going out alone was never her favorite thing to do, but at least it prevented her from over indulgence in alcohol. Not only did she have to be the designated driver, but there was no one there to keep an eye on her drink whenever she went to the bathroom.

With her boyfriend out of town and all her friends booed up for the night, Jessica refused to stay home by herself.

In exchange for getting her groove on, her only option was to go out alone and stay sober, so she stuck to watered down 7-ups all night.

As she tried plowing her way through the dense fog, a little voice kept nagging in her head. 

"Maybe I should just pull over for awhile. This is waaay too thick for me to see through."

But instead, she continued creeping forward, barely hitting thirty on the speedometer. She kept telling herself she was almost home or that the fog would soon lift. 

"Come on Jess. You just need to make it home. You got this girlfriend."

She hoped saying it out loud would make it feel more believable but it didn't. A tight knot was starting to form in her gut.

And that's when the sound came, like a hard thud, followed by a unrestrained howling noise that broke through the fog. 

Next came a wretched, gurgled sound that to her surprise, was actually coming from her. The knot in her stomach was now lodged in her throat. She slammed on the brakes, realizing what had just happened.

She had definitely hit something in the street.

For several seconds, Jessica just sat there, eyes wide, heart slamming so hard she could barely breathe. Her body shook uncontrollably. 

The fog pressed against every window in the car, making it a padded cell. She couldn't see a thing, but she heard it. 

A cry. A soft whimper. Then silence.

"Oh my God, it's a dog…"

She didn't move. Couldn't move. Every bone in her body screamed at her to do something, but fear clutched her chest like a vice.

Terrifying thoughts raced through her mind.

Oh my God. What can I do? 

It's nearly three in the morning. I'm out here by myself.

What if I get out and the dog tries to attack me? 

What if someone or something else is out there to hurt me?

I probably can't even help the dog anyway. 

If I get out of this car, I risk getting bit or worse.

Convincing herself there was nothing she could logically do, Jessica backed the vehicle up carefully, fearful of doing even more damage. 

The car rolled slightly when she circled wide and allowed it to slowly move forward. As she drove away, the noise the tires made on the damp pavement sounded like guilt.

By the time she got home and entered the empty apartment, the tears had started to flow. By the time she undressed and laid her head on the pillow, the tears still hadn't stopped.

Unable to sleep, she stared at the ceiling for over an hour. Her body was exhausted, while her mind was still back on Franklin Avenue, lying in the street where she had left the poor dog.

The nagging questions stabbed her like a knife.

What if it was still lying there, suffering endlessly?

How could I have just left it there to die?

She wondered how long it would take for the dog to expire, if it wasn't already dead. The thought was unbearable. 

She sat up suddenly and hopped out of bed. Pulling a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt out the drawer, she dressed quickly and slid into a pair of Crocs.

After grabbing a flashlight, her purse, and her keys, she scurried out the door and back to the scene of the crime.

It was still foggy outside, but this time, Jessica didn't worry about how thick it was. All she knew was that she had to go back.

Before getting to the end of the block, and heading back to where the accident happened, she realized the phone in her purse still hadn't been charged but she continued down the street anyway.

She didn't dare risk going back to the house to charge it. If she did she knew she'd lose the courage to come out and try it again.

******

It was Sunday morning now, and well after 4am. The fog was finally starting to lift slightly, and Jessica's fear subsided just a little. 

The streets were basically deserted, and when she turned onto Franklin Avenue not a soul or even another car was in sight.

She slowed down when she approached the area she recalled being in. It was just past the intersection, near a crooked utility pole. Jessica rolled the window down and clicked on the flashlight, allowing it to illuminate the street.

Before the beam even landed on anything, she heard it.

Faint, broken, but definitely a cry.

"Hey… hey there," she called out into the mist. "It's okay. I'm here now."

She pulled over and left the engine running. Her heart pounded when she stepped out into the fog.

The flashlight's beam flickered across the wet asphalt and eventually landed on what appeared to be fur. There was movement. Then she saw blood. Jessica let out a gasp.

"Oh my God."

Tears immediately began streaming down her face as she eyed a medium-sized mutt, trembling violently. It's breathing was shallow but fast. The dog had a bloody gash near its' hind legs but Jessica couldn't tell if that was the only injury.

"Come on baby. I got you. It's alright. I got you," she whispered tenderly into the fog, trying to reassure the dog, while inching her way closer to it.

Suddenly the same fears from earlier came back and began taunting her. She was worried sick that the scared and wounded animal would end up biting her. It took every ounce of courage Jessica possessed, not to cut and run. But by now, she had no choice. She knew she had to stay and do whatever she could.

When she got close enough to touch it, she reached out her hand timidly, still worried about being bitten. The dog appeared too weak to even raise its' head, but it managed to give her hand a warm lick.

That was all the permission Jessica needed.

"Hold on baby, I'll be right back. Just stay here."

She made her way to the trunk of her car and grabbed an old beach towel from it. It was perfect to wrap the dog in. When she placed laid it gently on the back seat, the dog whimpered, but didn't resist.

Back in the driver seat and all buckled in, she realized she had no idea where to find the nearest emergency vet at nearly five in the morning.

She pulled out her phone, and thankfully it had just enough of a charge to provide the answer she needed. It pointed her in the directions ten miles north of where she was. Ten terrifying, prayer-filled miles.

By the grace of God, she made it.

******

The antiseptic odor in the ER was joined by the smell of desperation when Jessica burst through the glass doors.

She went inside screaming frantically, as she clung to the bloody bundle with both arms. 

"Please - somebody - it's hurt. It ran out in the fog and I hit it with my car. Please-it's injured bad but it's still alive!"

The nurse behind the desk hesitated. "This isn't your dog?"

"My dog? No - I just told you. It's hurt! Weren't you listening? I need - "

The stern looking nurse interrupted.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but we usually need the owner or payment information on file before - "

"It's dying!" she shrieked, with tears pouring down her face. 

"I couldn't just leave it there. Please. You have to - "

"It's alright Mildred" a male voice interrupted. He approached from down the hallway, wearing blue scrubs and kind eyes. 

The young man looked to be in his late 20's, and from the tired expression on his face, the end of his shift was probably long overdue. Nonetheless, he managed to squeeze out a smile.

"I'll take care of this one nurse" he said with authority.

With the greatest of care, he took the delicate bundle from Jessica's arms, and quickly scanned what was underneath the blood soaked towel.

"Mildred, why don't you help this young lady to a seat and get her some water. It's going to be a while." 

He smiled at Jessica again, and spoke in a reassuring manner.

"Don't worry. I'll do all I can for her."

Nurse Mildred did as the young doctor instructed, and Jessica watched as him and another nurse rushed the dog behind the swinging doors.

She sat down, so nervous she couldn't stop shaking from the bizarre events of the night. She was muddy, soaked in fog, and had blood on her sleeves, yet somehow she was starting to feel lighter.

******

About an hour later, the young doctor returned to find Jessica curled up in a chair, slightly dazed from fatigue, stress and lack of sleep.

He had to give her a slight nudge before she sat up and was able to comprehend exactly where she was. She looked at him and he gave her a big boyish grin.

"Well, I'm happy to report, the patient will live. She had a bad injury to her leg, and some bruised ribs, but luckily no internal damage. In fact, she handled the repair job just like a champ. Didn't you girl?"

He turned his attention to the bandaged dog he was still holding. Though partially sedated, the dog was clearly feeling a lot better. She could lift her head now, and was busy licking the doctor's face out of gratitude.

"You're feeling better aren't you girl?" He petted the dog while he spoke. It was clear to Jessica, this was one doctor who truly loved his work. She was glad he had been on duty last night.

"She has a name you know," she blurted the words out and surprised them both. In that moment, she took ownership of the dog she had just rescued.

"A name? Is that so?" 

The doctor raised a puzzled eyebrow. He recalled what Jessica told nurse Mildred when she brought the dog in. He assumed it was a stray since it wasn't wearing a collar or any identifying tags.

She saw what he was thinking.

"I know what I said. It's not my dog, but since I guess I'll be taking her home with me. I decided to name her Courage."

He gave the pooch one last pat on the head before handing it over to Jessica. "That's a great name. She really is a courageous little lady."

Jessica smiled and thought about everything she'd been through since leaving the club hours ago. She was truly proud of how she had handled herself, all alone on a dark and scary night. 

"Yep doc. I agree. She really is a courageous lady after all."

But it wasn't the dog Jessica was talking about at that moment. During the night, in spite of all her fear, she still managed to show the courage needed, to literally save another life. 

It was an awesome feeling, and one she would never forget.

The sun was waking up and breaking through the fog as she carried the sleeping dog to the car. It was resting peacefully, all bandaged up and covered in a nice warm hospital blanket. Pretty soon she'd wake up in her brand new home.

Jessica smiled, thinking about what her boyfriend would say when she told him about the events of the night. 

He probably won't even believe it, she thought.

Hell, I don't even believe it. 

Before last night, she would have found it inconceivable; taking a chance like that late at night; getting out of the car and risking her personal safety for a dog.

I guess I have more courage than I realize. And to think. I would have never known I had it in me if it wasn't for last night.

She laughed and hummed happily for the rest of the drive home, but was careful not to wake her sleeping dog.

END