“Officer bates! I’ve found two IDs. They were both locked in the trunk.”

The ID presented to him first was for Leslie Gosnell. The second for Brittany Halloway. The photos of both girls were startlingly similar. I ran both through my computer. Each girl was from a town at least 100 miles from here, but both from the same state.

I sent the IDs and jotted info to the EMTs so they could contact the families. It was sad that this happened. It was so hard when young lives are lost.

-
“This is Mercy General. Is this Mrs. Halloway?”
“Yes. What’s going on?”
“I’m calling in regards your daughter Brittany. she was in a car accident. She’s in ICU .”
“Oh my God! I’ll be right there!”
Click.

-
“Brit? Brit? Can you hear us? It’s mommy and daddy.”
“Are you sure this is her, I mean look at her!” whispered Mr. Halloway.
“Shhh! She’ll hear you!”
“She can’t hear us, she’s in a coma! And I would be too if I was that battered!”
“One of the kids died! Be grateful!”
“I am!”
A gurgle came from the bed. “Brit!?”
“Nurse! Nurse!”