Divider

Probably saved her life
This slab of concrete
Cracked three separate ways
I wonder ...
Will she ever realize this

... ... ...

"Call 911"
"There's been an accident"

... ... ...

Why was I drawn
Why not just ignore it
Why did I go
... I didn't want to see

One man
Hopped the fence
Stood beside her car
Front end
Half the length
It once was
Windshield shattered
Spider-webbing outward
From some impact inside
Damn ...
Wasn't wearing her seatbelt
Just know it
I've seen it before
That pattern
Her head made it

The man
Looked tentatively inside
Fear on his face
Others behind the fence
Yelled instructions
Unwilling to go
Themselves
I didn't blame them
I didn't want to go
I stood there
Watching him
... He had no idea
His fear took him
I didn't want to go
Damn her

I hopped the fence
Approached her car
Hopped shattered divider
Looked inside
Blood pooled
In an eye socket
I don't want to see this
Careful examination
Shows its origin
Her nose
Better for certain
Than from her eye socket
No movement
I see her chest rise
I thank God
For her life
For sparing me
The witness
Of a death
No body parts
Are severed
I thank God again
She's in one piece
But that windshield ...
She lies unconscious

"She's alive"
I tell the man
He sighs
Visibly relieved
In his panic
He could not discern this

"She needs to be kept warm"
I tell him
As I remove my sweater
"She's undoubtedly in shock after this"
"And don't move her"
"Let the paramedics move her"
With my sweater
I cover her chest
He spies a seat cover
He covers her legs
I reach across her
Carefully
Unlocking passenger door
Where her head lay
Unconscious
In passenger seat
I don't want to be here
But am thankful
She's alive
And I feel inside me
She'll be okay

The passenger door
Difficult to open
Metal ground
Creaked
The man came round
Helped me pry
Until door was opened
Wide as possible
Allowing entry
Space to work

Leaning in
I assess her damage
Better than I hoped
Bleeding had stopped
She still breathed
I thanked God again
It seemed to me
Her life might hang
In the balance
I looked her in the face
Her eyes closed
And in my heart ...
"God, take care of this one"
"Her path has led her here"
"From the pain that led her here"
"To the pain she will know from this"
"Make yourself known to her"
"And lead her toward your will"
"Don't take no for an answer"
Her eyes began moving
Beneath the lids

A feeble cry
"... help me ..."
I respond
"Help is coming"
"Concentrate on your breath"
"Breath steadily"
"And as deeply as is comfortable"
"Don't move"
She passes out again
Once more
I take notice
Of shattered windshield
No wonder
Yet ...
She has fared
Remarkably well
Thank God

I stroke her face
Remembering
The value of touch
To the injured
Speaking calmly
Words of assurance
As slowly
She regains
Her consciousness
Slipping in and out
"... help me ..."

Behind me
A female voice
"I'm a paramedic"
I back out
She takes over
An off duty paramedic
Apparently
She leans inside
"Where does it hurt"
"What is your name"
"Where are you from"
Was she just plain oblivious
To this woman's condition
Her tones were stern
Harsh
I wanted to yank her back
And ask these questions myself
This injured woman
Had no need
For such abrasive tones
Just now
Still...
She managed a name
"... Tracy ..."
After several
Harsh sounding attempts

Before paramedics
Arrived the patrol
By then
Tracy becoming aware
And agitated
No doubt
By this woman's tones
The patrolmen
Equally as abrasive
Furthered the questions
I felt need to protect her
Tracy
But figured
These men
That woman
Knew
What they were doing
In my gut
I felt
I should shield her
In her agitation
She actually got out of the car
Stood up
Looked around
Confused
Scared
Through my mind
Thoughts of potential
Neck and back injury
Internal damages
Further compounded
By her movements
She needs to be still
Unnecessary movement
Could kill her
I don't know
Why I know this

But
I put her in God's hands
Who was already there
Or she would have been
In pieces
When she met the divider
Someone
Has been praying for her
For one thing
Went right
To save her life
Amid the many
That went wrong
To end it

The divider ...
Cracked THREE separate ways
Could it be
HIS signature
Will she ever know

I hope so ...