The Last Lucky.

“I haven’t done this in a while, but damn I need that cigarette.” She spoke to me in between panicked breaths.

I ran my hand down my coat pocket and felt the box which I consumed my cancer. Pulled out the pack and flipped the lid. My last lucky cigarette. Must be fate I laughed to myself. As I held the box out to her she kept glancing over her shoulder. First when I accepted her plea, second when she brought the smoke to her lips and once more when I lit it for her.

“Something the matter?” I asked.

“Nothing. Thanks.” She quickly spoke and started walking away from me.

“Your welcome.” I replied, and went back to staring blankly at the cars passing by.

A blink of eye later, the squeal of automobile brakes erupted above the city ambiance. Then the crash of broken shattered glass shot everywhere. What brought the commotion to a standstill was a final thud. Everyone’s eyes darted towards the source of the sound.

“Does anyone know her name?” A good Samaritan yelled crouched beside the mangled body. He was barely older than a kid, dressed in his grocer’s uniform.

“Anyone? She is barely breathing!” He added.

I ran over and held her hand.

“What’s her name?” The good Samaritan prodded.

“Hell if I know! I just gave her my lucky cigarette. Then she was splatted by that cabby.” I answered as I pointed towards the driver of the car.

He was in no better shape either, the steering wheel ripped a big gash in his forehead.

“Is someone going to call an ambulance?” The good Samaritan pleaded.

The crowd continued to watch but no one moved. After the a short while others went about their day, soon to forget that someone was lying bleeding in the street. Others kept on staring away their faces awash with disgust.

“Grab her purse, maybe there is something.” I instructed the grocer.

Her purse was down the street, against the curb, flung far from the crash, right where I dropped my smoke. The good Samaritan ran over and tossed it to me then he began to check on the cabby.

When I caught it and trifled through the different mascaras and pens I found her identification. “Carol O’Malley.” I gulped when I read it.

“We got to get her to the hospital NOW!” I blurted out as I started to pick her up.

“What about him?” The good Samaritan wondered.

“He should of been a better driver! Go call an ambulance. I’ll get her to the doctors!” I commanded as I started to run down the street with Carol in my arms.

“Boston General is the other way.” I could her him say as I ran away.

I knew that. I also knew who the O’Malley’s were. The less law was involved the better. “Get your boss on the phone now!” I yelled as I crashed through the doors of Tuirnier’s auto shop. I sprawled her out on the counter of the repair shop. The clerk knew this situation to well and flipped the closed sign and dropped the blinds.

When he saw who it was his eyes blasted with astonishment and he let out a loud “WHAT THE FUCK!” He ran over to the phone immediately swished the rotary dial back and forth.

“Get Donny and the Doc! It’s her! She isn’t looking good. Get here quick!”
“Some guy brought her in.”
“I don’t know I didn’t catch his name.”
“Hey! You, what’s your name?” The clerk quizzed while he covered the mouthpiece and looked at me.

“Rodney Alvin. She was hit by a cabby right in front of me. When I saw her last name I thought this would be the best place.” I answered.

“Smart guy. The boss has been looking for her since she ran away.” The clerk answered.

“Marital troubles?” I replied while rummaging for things to comfort her.

“That’s his daughter.” The clerk quipped back.

“Oh shiii.” Those words almost left my lips when the back door flung wide open.

“CAROL! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RUN AWAY! RIGHT WHEN THINGS GOT HOT. YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GO WITH YOUR MOTHER TO THE LAKE!” Donny yelped as he ran over to his daughter.

“DOC DO what you can! THOSE DAMN I-TIES already be destroying my business, now they want my family! THIS IS WAR!” Donny cursed as he punched the table.

“I owe you. You brought my daughter back. Here.” Donny admitted. His wallet popped open and Benjamin’s flowed out. He handed me a stack.

“That’s my entire paycheck! I was just trying to do the right thing. I can’t take your money.” I blabbered.

“Things are about to get heavy, and I need good men. Men who can do some lifting. You are a good man. Don’t go to far.” Donny said as he pushed the cash into my cigarette pocket.

I walked out of the autoshop and thought to myself. “Was I lucky or was it fate?”

That was twenty years ago, now I am in this cell.