What Lies Between

“Go AWAY, GO AWAY.. go away, go away, go away…” the man said terrified. He laid on the cold stone filthy and hungry. He doesn’t know how long it’s been since the horror started. The growls of the dead are deafening. Their arms reach through the iron bars in attempt to grab at him. Getting locked in a cell seemed like luck at first, but as time passed, it proved itself to be a curse. His body could not stop shivering. He peed his pants, not once but twice. He doesn’t understand what’s wrong with these people but they’re not alive. They must not be. They look soulless, squeezing themselves through the bars, breaking their bones and bleeding out, but they don’t care.

“84, there’s a 1 3 at 57 Pine St. Suspect to be highly intoxicated, 2 people injured. Over.” Dispatcher said through the radio. “84, ETA, 1 minute. Over” Frank said as he ate a donut. A 1 3 was rare, you never see a car run through a wall in Oakville. Frank knew of one time Big Henry’s got drunk on his birthday and slammed into The Waffer, Big Henry was lucky not to kill anyone. The city wasn’t large but it did come with surprises. Frank hit the gas and his coffee spilled all over his dashboard. ‘Now I have to clean up two messes.’ Frank thought.

Frank knew 57 Pine St. It was his second home; Arcelio’s, a local restaurant with an amazing bar, great food and beautiful waitresses. Frank is an occasional customer. Pulling up, cruiser with the lights on. The first thing Frank saw was the people in the street talking and pointing at what Frank saw next a car in the middle of a wall. A wall Frank knew too well.

Frank got out of the car instructing stand-byers “Everyone clear out, make some space please, an ambulance has been dispatched. Please, clear the road so it can pass through.” Frank said before checking in on the car driver. Frank knocks at the window. “hey buddy, you’re in big trouble.”

“Welcome to Arcelio’s, I will be your host for today, right this way.” Erica directed her new guest. With a warm smile Erica walked towards the seating area. An orchestra of cutlery and speech unfolded.

Erica took pride in Arcelio’s. She managed her staff with strict but reasonable ardor. “Your waiter will be right with you, thank you.” Erica said as she left the guest. She could hear Sergio introduce himself right as she walked away. Sergio never disappoints, when it comes to - costumer comes first. Erica looked at her watch. She’s been counting the minutes. Her precious Princess Consuelo a poodle puppy awaits at her apartment.

“Welcome to Arcelio’s, I will be your host for today, right this way.” Erica repeated. It was her opening line with every guest. Sometimes she would switch it up ‘Welcome to Arcelio’s. My name is Erica, I will be your host today.’ but Erica knew the guests were not here for her. “Your waiter will be right with you, thank you.” on cue, Sergio appeared. “Hi, Welcome to Arcelio’s. What would you be having today?” Erica heard as she walked away.

Paramedic Shelby found herself giving CPR to a young Hispanic girl. ‘What kind of a fool drives himself into a wall.’ Murphy thought. Paramedic Gonzales knew this world wasn’t fair, she knew it too well. She became a medic to help people. She has witnessed a lot of pain and suffering. ‘This job can be hard.' she thought, as she kept pumping at the girl’s chest.

She knew that she couldn’t be gone. Not yet.

‘The other victim didn’t survive, Spanish male, a waiter. He was declared DOA. The girl still drew breathe when we got here, I know she’s still with us, come on.’ Murphy's thoughts raced as she continue chest compressions. “Sam, time?” Murphy asked Paramedic Green who replied, “53 seconds.”

‘Five minutes of air deprivation brain cells start to die, if the girl doesn’t wake in the next couple minutes she could suffer extensive damage, if she’s not dead already.’ Murphy thought. She lost track of the number of chest compression. Her partner grabs her by the shoulder, tells her to stop, that she’s gone but Murphy knows she’s not gone yet.

A few more pumps she tells herself ‘one, two, three…’

‘One, two, three, one, two, three…’

Paramedic Green sees a smile on Paramedic Shelby before he hears “Lets load her into the ambulance.”

“We just have to look a little harder, Ben will be alright.” Jason said. “He’s probably out with a girl.” Mary gave him a stern look. Jason knew to avoid a follow up sentence. “Look let’s have a quick bite, shower and we can go back out in 20 minutes. We’ve been in the heat all day and we stink.”

“Fine. Make it fast.” Mary said with a chest full of emotions.

Mary knew Ben’s disorder better than anyone. When they were little Ben would wake up screaming in the middle of the night covered in sweat. She used to think Ben was only having nightmares but days of screaming nights turned into months and her family realized Ben’s problem was deeper than nightmares alone.

Walking into the kitchen, Mary wasn’t feeling cooking or eating whatsoever. She placed her hands on the kitchen island trying to balance herself and keep her composure. Mary reached for a bag of bread, a butter knife, a jar of jelly and a jar of peanut butter.

“Pb and Jelly, great choice. I’m starving.” Jason said as he walked in freshly showered.

They ate in silence. Lost in thought about Ben’s whereabouts, a ringing snapped her out of her trance. Mary picked up her phone and answered.

“Hello? He did what? Mom.. calm down.. where is he?” Mary said into the phone.

Jason got worried as the color left Mary’s face. Mary knew she had to hold back the tears. Jason reached for his keys. Mary followed Jason out the door leaving a half eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the kitchen island.