Unfolding Disaster

I ran as fast as my legs could take me. Amelia not far off behind me. Running down a staircase that seemed like an eternity of running from something. My first instinct is to always look out for people even if I don't know them. That's what a good person does, right? I was cautious where I placed my feet when coming down the staircase, as there was scattered pieces of glass and some blood when we reached lower down of my apartment building. This was when I could see the true terror outside... I froze...

Outside... how to describe it...

Three cars are caught up in a collision... a wisps of energy just leaving the car, an energy of a full roaming vapor... this ghost caused the accident... that's when my eyes stayed glued onto one car... I felt Amelia's arms come around my shoulders to support me...

The Ecto-1... was the major car to be smashed into smithereens... I could see them all... Winston...Ray...Peter... and my scientist, my only lover... Dr... Egon..

My knees collapsed onto the broken glass. I didn't show no pain from the glass piercing into my skin. I didn't care what I had to do. I felt a soft wet sensation start to stream down my face. I was crying, and it wouldn't stop. I kept crying and crying as Amelia wanted me to speak. An officer was approaching her behind me to ask about my condition as well as the scene of the crash. That's when a whisper of voice escaped my mouth.

"I can't...." I told myself, yet I couldn't hold back. I ran down the remaining stairs until my feet stopped inches away from the back door of the Ecto-1. I could see Egon's glasses smashed and see the damage done on his face. I placed my hand on the window and without a seconds thought I yanked the door open, allowing it to open on its hinges. Yet, it wouldn't open any further and my arm could just reach through the small gap of the door.

"Egon!" I cried out, "Winston! Ray! Peter! Someone! Please be alive!" the tears continued to stream down my face, I reached my arm inwards to hold onto Egon's hand. I kept struggling and struggling, my fingers slipping off the edge of his hand before I could finally reach it. However, before I could something inside the car distracted me. Winston, who was in the back with Egon, started to groan with agony.

I rushed over to the other side of the car. I tugged and tugged on that door. But no movement would allow the door to open for me. I started banging on the window until the glass smashed and I could reach my hand in to open the door from the inside. I kept reassuring Winston that everything was going to be okay. He looked at me like I was a hero on a day that wasn't expecting. And his expression was correct. With the help of a officer, we freed the door open and without haste grabbed Winston and helped him out onto the concrete road. I lay his head on my lap and attempted to help him with his loss for words.

"Winston, talk to me! Tell me what happened!" I questioned him quickly, my tears falling onto his cheeks.

"We were about to park up to come see you, Egon wouldn't stop making sure that he was dropped off to surprise you. However..." Winston interrupted his sentence with a loud cough, I could see the blood visible. 

"It's alright Winston, first you're going to go to the hospital." Amelia briskly said while a paramedic crew took over to assess his injuries. In an instance, I ran back to the car to grab Egon and to make sure he was alright. But Amelia grabbed my hand and forced me back. 

I wasn't going to let her stop me, furthermore I brushed her off me and forced my way to the car. I entered the car from where the door had been removed for Winston and sat next to his slightly upright body. I removed his glasses and started feeling around to check for a pulse. But something in the corner of my eye grabbed my attention. A small red box? Without thinking the situation over I opened the box, my fingers already doing the task. I stared at the box. A diamond ring!

"I was going to... ask you.." a low grumble spoke to me as I happen to glance at Egon. His eyes were open so slightly! My eyes opened with shock as the tears started to reform and slide down my tender face. His weak hand came up to caress my face as he said his final words, "Please... say yes..."

His hand fell...

and I broke...

my feelings... my emotions... all broken like a string when you tug on it too hard...

I felt that my life didn't have meaning...

I lost all hope...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amelia takes me back to my apartment that night. She sits me in my favourite chair and goes to the kitchen to fetch me a glass of water. I sat there, motionless. Not speaking a word while the dead silence overcame the room. I was too unfocused to see Amelia clicking her fingers in my face while handing me a glass of water. That's when I was pulled back into reality.

"Listen, Jessica. I know how you're feeling. Ray was in the accident too and I fully understand all of your emotions." Amelia spoke softly, "You know they're going to make it through this. If Winston did, they will. I can assure you that much."

My voice cracked, "Amelia, why did you not cry? Don't you love Ray? Wouldn't you cry for him?"

My questions caught her off guard. She continued to stare into the bottom of her cup and before I knew it she was putting her coat on. I reached out to her but her reply also caught me off guard. "Of course I'd cry. While you were seeing Egon in the hospital I was with Ray crying my eyes out. I just choose not to show my emotions around other people. And that's what I've done for the last 34 years." 

And with that reply, I was left alone in my apartment like before. All by myself, no one here to help me through my emotion and pain. That's it! I grabbed my laptop and started to type away, I looked around every paper that I owned. I decided that with Egon recovering, I'm going to pick up where he left off. I stuffed my laptop into my bag as well as paper in a folder, grabbed my coat and set off to the firehouse. 

When I arrived, Janine didn't even question me. She in fact helped me! We rang several numbers about University PHD enrollments and before I knew it the next two weeks flew by. I graduated at the top of my class and now had a degree in Chemistry, Physiology and Physics. Amelia and Janine where there to support me the way and even at the back of my mind I could sense Egon's presence with me. 

When I visited him that evening, I sat down next to him in my graduation robes and placed my hat onto the side of the chair. I couldn't contain my excitement, yet I couldn't show him my happiness as during the two weeks I've been away... he hasn't woken up... I placed my hand onto his cold palm and spoke to him softly, my voice calm and reassuring.

"Egon... please wake up..." I whispered, not letting my emotions overcome my figure of speech, "I've gotten a PHD now. I can help around the firehouse when you need me. I can construct fire traps and help improve the equipment. I know that if I touch anything you'll get annoyed with me even if I set it on fire. " I chuckled to myself, but yet he still didn't move.

"Listen, I know you probably can't hear me. But when you asked me about marrying you, I really have thought through about my answer to your question. And... I'd love to. First, I need you to wake up for me. We can then focus on your health, and get you back up on your feet before you know it..." I suddenly think back to the day of the accident, "When I saw you, in that state. I couldn't contain the anger and the regret that was bubbling up inside of me. I need you alive with me. Please..."

It was no use, he hadn't moved an inch in the last two weeks. I stood and grabbed my belongings, knowing that I may have to wait a little longer to see those adoring brown eyes again. I need to see them again, everyday, non-stop. I can't take it any longer. If it weren't for me allowing him to go away for a while then he'd still be awake and continuing on with his day to day life. I feel as if it's all my fault that when I first arrived to New York, I've disturbed his life and the others. Amelia, Ray, Winston, Peter, Janine... and Egon... 

I quickly shook my head, knowing that feeling these emotions wasn't going to get me anywhere. I pinched at my skin, feeling as if I wanted to kick myself for regretting the events I've had with Egon. I know that I generally do care for him... I love him... 

As I was deep in thought, I felt warmth come back to Egon's hand. Like... he was transferring heat in order to comfort me through touch. I didn't realise it at first, but... his fingers wrap around my hand softly..

"Jessica...."

To Be Continued