I Want To Live

Chapter Fifteen

     Patricia Williams lay stunned. Bleeding. Hard to catch her breath. Fighting the heaviness that threatened to overtake her. Struggling to remain conscious, her eyes flickered. Managed to turn her head. The cell phone shone on the floor. If I can only reach it. Willing every muscle to move, she scooted along the floor toward the phone, pushing with her feet. It was in call mode. Feeble fingers hit 911.

    “911 Call Center. What is your emergency?”

    “.  .  .been shot.”

    “Please speak up. I can hardly hear you.”

    “.  .  .burglar killed---husband.  .  .house on fire.  .  .red hair.  .  .sleeve tattoo.  .  .”

Lying in a pool of blood, her world went dark. 

    The call was being traced. “Help is on the way, ma’am. Stay with me. Ma’am?”

A fire truck and two squad cars raced to the Lake Union Community of floating homes. One of the houses definitely ablaze. Flames shooting into the air. Glass cracking, splintered and projecting like missiles. Wood blistering, sizzling. Several neighbors stood along the wharf, hoses in their hands, already dousing the fire. Saving their own homes. Vainly trying to save the Williams place too. 

    Police officers and fire fighters descended on the scene. A small group clustered around a sheet-wrapped severely burned victim well away from the conflagration. An EMT knelt down.   

    “Do you know her name?”

    “Patricia Williams.” A woman replied.   

    “Pat, we’re here to help you. Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.” He felt a faint squeeze. His partner applied an oxygen mask over the victim’s nose and mouth. He detected an irregular heart beat with his stethoscope. They wrapped her in a reflective blanket. Lifted her onto a collapsed stretcher. Raised the wheeled gurney. Ran it up the inclined ramp and hoisted her into the back of the ambulance. They hopped into the rig, slamming the doors shut. Their driver hit the siren and peeled out of the lot. Lights flashing. 

    After much swearing, the two EMTs in back managed to start an IV. Ran Saline solution wide open. Radioed the Emergency Room. “Bringing in a severely burned female. Unconscious. Second and third degree burns. Two GSWs.”