Something random I came up with. A story told completely in messages left on an answering machine. Hope you enjoy! ___________________________________________________ 6 unread messages. “Hey, Emma, just wanted to make sure you made it home alright today. Also, you’re going to have to take a different highway to get to Mom and Dad’s house. There was a crash on 78 last night, probably because of the storm. Call me once you can. Mom’s worried about you. Bye!” End of Message. “Hello Emma, I still haven’t gotten a call from you, nor have Mom or Dad. We are all getting worried. I get it your tired and jetlagged, just… just send me a text once you're feeling better, please? Thanks, Em.” End of Message. “Em? We are all getting worried. It’s been two days since your plane landed, and we still haven’t heard from you. We’ve all called you a million times. Where are you? Why aren’t you answering your phone? Please call, or text, or anything soon!” Distant crying starts in the background. “Oh–Cora’s awake–I have to go, call me!” End of Message. “Emma, Dad got the call from the hospital today. They didn’t think to look for your license until today. Oh, Em, I-I’m so so sorry. I can’t believe that–” a sob slips out. “That driver could have hit you and run off like that!” She starts full-on crying. “The doctors say you're still in a coma, and only Mom and Dad can go in and see you right now. I’m so, so sorry, Emma, I should have come to pick you up, I should’ve made sure you got home alright, I just-I just want you to be okay.” End of Message. “Hey Em. I got to go in and see you today. You looked so peaceful. You could’ve been sleeping, not that I ever saw you sleep. The doctors don’t know what’s going on, and they say you should’ve woken up by now, or at least should’ve… should have passed on. Oh, Em. You have to wake up, got it? I… I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t. What any of us would do.” End of Message. “Emma, it was good to see you again today. Mom cried. Dad got teary; I didn’t know he could do that. Anyway, the doctors said that you won’t be able to talk for a while, be that a day or a month. They didn’t try to sugarcoat that it would be a long road to recovery, since you have numerous injuries, more than I could ever remember. Still, though, I never thought I’d be so happy to see your blue eyes again. We all love you, Emma, and we will be right alongside you this entire time.” End of Message. All messages read.
If you don't understand: Emma's plane landed, and a while later, when Emma didn't call/text that she made it back, her sister (unnamed) sent her the first message. (I kinda imagined that she had a hotel booked) Still doesn't hear from her, so sends her message #2. Gets REALLY worried and sends her message #3, but her daughter (Cora) wakes up, and she leaves. The dad gets a call from the hospital, and discovers that she was hit in a hit-and-run. The rest take place at the hospital and the sister coping.
