In a Different World

Life is always one wrong turn away from a happy ending

A hand shook her.

"Wha...?" She had been sleeping more deeply than she usually did in the chair. She was cold again, despite the blanket. The animals had deserted her to rearrange themselves in a furry pile in the corner. These drafty windows, she thought randomly, drowsing a bit still. The hand shook her again. She turned and looked up.

"Carl...?"

Carl didn't speak, and his eyes were sad, so sad. Denise snapped fully awake, uneasiness drowning the sleepiness. "Carl? What is it, you're acting weird. What, were…were they out of cigarettes or something?"

He drew his hand back from her shoulder slowly, lovingly tracing a soft spill of hair. As he turned away, she saw the large gash on the back of his head as he whispered, "I'm sorry, Denise."

"Carl! Carl, what happened? Damn it, talk to me! You’re hurt, whose fault is this? What happened?!" Denise could hear her voice rising, cracking. She was rock solid in the ER, never a twitch above cool headed; but that panic rat others knew too well was running full speed around her belly now.

He slipped quietly into the bedroom. She was ready to jump up, run to him, make him talk to her, but he spoke quietly. "Answer the phone, honey."

The last syllable was barely out of his mouth when her mobile rang. She turned to stare at it. How had he known...? It rang twice before she could make herself pick it up. "...Hello?"

"Mrs. Tennenworth?"

"Yes?" Again, the panic cracking her voice.

"Ma’am, this is Lieutenant Halloway with Utica County Sherrif's department. There’s… been an accident, and…” Pregnant pause! she thought in random desperation. “We need you to come to McLellan hospital soon you can, ma'am..."

Carl's voice came from everywhere, the lightest whisper: "I'm sorry..."

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300 Words

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NOTE: This was 100% inspired by "Cozy And Warm"  by dragonwoman ; specifically the line "A hand shook her awake." The main characters are also borrowed for this alternative story. No animals from the original story were harmed during this writing. Thank you for the inspiration!