Chapter One

Almost Gone

Kory’s legs felt heavier than usual as she trudged down the narrow, winding road leading from the small countryside hospital where she volunteered. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the dirt path, but the warm light did little to soothe the constant ache in her head. For over a week now, the migraines had been relentless, pounding at her skull with unrelenting force. She pressed her fingers to her temples, willing the pain to subside, though deep down, she knew it wouldn’t.

Her tote bag, filled with groceries from the town market, swung lightly at her side. The hospital shifts were often long, and today had been no different. Still, volunteering gave her days, meaning filling the gaps between freelance writing gigs. The fresh countryside air and sense of community in this small town had been a reprieve from her once frantic city life.

As Kory neared the main road, she spotted a familiar figure sitting on the side of the street—a frail old man with threadbare clothes and a worn-out cap placed at his feet. He was a regular around these parts, and though he rarely asked for anything, Kory often shared what she could. Today, her heart softened as she watched him, huddled against the wall, his thin arms wrapped around himself for warmth.

She slowed her pace, reaching into her tote for the sandwich she had just bought at the bakery. Without hesitation, she crouched beside him and held it out.

“Here,” she said softly. “It’s still fresh.”

The old man’s weary eyes lifted to meet hers. His smile, faint but genuine, tugged at the corners of his cracked lips. “Bless you, miss. Always too kind.”

Kory returned his smile, though her migraine flared once again, making her wince. “Take care of yourself,” she said gently, standing up and adjusting her bag as she prepared to continue on her way.

The road ahead bustled with the typical late-afternoon traffic. Cars whizzed by, kicking up small clouds of dust in their wake. Kory’s mind drifted back to the patients she had tended to that day to the familiar hum of the hospital’s routine. She often found herself lost in these thoughts, using the familiar chaos to distract herself from the throbbing pain that had taken residence in her head.

But today, she was distracted for a different reason. As she waited for the light to change, a sudden jolt from behind sent her stumbling off the curb.

Someone had bumped into her—hard.

Before Kory could steady herself, her foot slipped, and she found herself falling forward, arms flailing in a desperate attempt to catch her balance. Time seemed to stretch out, her vision blurring as she hurtled toward the busy street.

A loud horn blared. Kory's heart stopped as she realized a car was barreling straight toward her, tires screeching as the driver slammed on the brakes. Panic surged through her as the sleek black vehicle skidded out of control, swerving wildly to avoid her.

Her breath caught in her throat.

With a deafening crash, the car veered off course, flipping onto its roof. The sound of metal grinding against asphalt, the shattering of glass—it was all too much. Kory lay frozen on the ground, her mind racing as the chaotic scene unfolded before her. Her chest heaved, adrenaline surging through her veins as the reality of what had just happened hit her like a ton of bricks.

I could have died.

For a long moment, she couldn’t move. Her limbs felt leaden, and the world around her spun. People began to gather, their voices a distant hum in her ringing ears. Slowly, Kory pushed herself up, her hands trembling as she got to her feet. The scene before her was a wreck—an overturned car, glass littering the road, and a pool of blood trickling from one of the shattered windows.

Her stomach churned.

Without a second thought, she rushed toward the wreckage. The driver’s side window was completely shattered, and inside, she saw a man—no older than his late twenties—slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious. His face was covered in blood, and his chest barely rose with each shallow breath.

"Help! We need to get him out!" Kory’s voice cracked as she called for help.

Several bystanders rushed to her side. Together, they carefully pried the mangled door open, pulling the man from the car and laying him on the ground. Kory’s training kicked in as she checked his pulse. It was faint, but there. Relief washed over her, but only briefly—there was still someone else in the car.

In the backseat, Kory spotted a small car seat strapped tightly in place. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the tiny, unmoving figure inside—a little girl, barely more than two years old.

"Oh no…"

Her hands shook as she unbuckled the straps, carefully lifting the child from the wreckage. The girl’s eyes were closed, her head resting limply against Kory’s shoulder as she cradled her.

“She’s just unconscious,” Kory murmured to herself, trying to keep calm. “Just unconscious…”

A man from the crowd helped her as she laid the girl down on a soft blanket someone had brought. Kory checked her over, her heart pounding. Apart from a small bruise on her forehead, the child appeared unharmed.

Moments later, the distant wail of sirens filled the air. Help was on the way, and Kory felt her entire body sag with relief. But the lingering unease in her chest remained as the paramedics arrived, taking over the scene. As they loaded the man and his daughter into the ambulance, Kory felt a strange tug in her heart. There was something about that little girl—something that made her feel responsible.

"Ma’am, are you all right?" A paramedic asked, breaking her out of her thoughts.

Kory blinked, realizing she was still standing in the middle of the street, her head pounding with the force of a renewed migraine. “Y-Yeah,” she stammered, her voice distant. “I’m fine.”

"You should head home and rest," the paramedic suggested, concern etched into his expression. "You've been through quite a shock."

Kory nodded, but as she walked away, her mind remained on the man and his little girl. The image of her small, peaceful face as she slept tugged at something deep inside her.

As she made her way back to her quiet little cottage, the migraine throbbed with a renewed vengeance. The two days off the hospital had given her didn’t feel like enough—something about today’s events felt like a tipping point. A shift she wasn’t ready for.

And yet, Kory couldn’t shake the feeling that her life had just changed forever.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***