Road trips are journeys that must be taken with patience while observing the landscapes, wide and narrow roads, toll booths, and rural green areas. They stopped at a small cabin, and a restaurant along the way. This restaurant was special and frequented by various common travelers, who traveled from the countryside to the city and vice versa.
-In less than two hours, we'll arrive in Liverpool, - Franz, the driver in charge of taking care of both Agustina and Billy, commented. Billy's blond hair was slightly damp; it was a rainy day despite being summer, and the rain continued to concentrate everywhere.
Franz was a chubby man with little hair, a flat nose, and crooked teeth, but he smiled regardless of the yellow of his teeth. He was quick to talk while driving, wearing a beret and a suit, regardless of the stifling weather.
-Here, we can have some meats, - Franz commented, followed by William, a man in charge of trip security.
-Thank you, Franz, everything has been fantastic, - Agustina commented, wearing a large scarf from Manchester, while Billy watched his mother smile, her broad forehead and straight hair, typical of her chosen hairstyle of the day. They walked towards the establishment, noticing the truckers who arrived; the restaurant looked like a bar, with numerous glass cups surrounding a small bar with a gas station display, an interesting sponsorship.
-Franz, what should we order? Breakfast was quite satisfying; you ate beans, sausage, eggs, and bread for breakfast. I'm just a woman who has coffee or tea for breakfast, - Agustina commented, putting an arm around Billy who was watching TV.
Sports.
-Snacks are fine, dear, while the boy needs a good meal, - Franz commented.
-That would be excellent, Franz, - Billy commented.
They paid attention; one of Billy's songs started playing on the radio, a fantastic sound that brought back a fond memory of Billy's adventures. It was comforting.
-The boy sings well, - William said.
-My sweet boy, he's fantastic, - Agustina said with her chest puffed up with pride.
They continued their journey calmly, Billy rested his head against the window as the rain fell in quick and slow drops. As the rain continued, people wrapped up warmly; on the road, it only mattered to keep going. In some situations, the traffic was heavier, but not this time. The clattering sound of the windshield wipers, along with the tires running from side to side, the announcement of the entrance to Liverpool was not less than 30 miles away. However, arriving was just a fantasy. He remembered well the smile his mother gave him moments before; it was so bright and beautiful, serene, with a few lines around her eyes, warm like nothing else.
-I love you, - Agustina said instinctively, softly, only the movement of her lips was spontaneous, as she was.
She had a habit of closing her eyes and moving her nose slowly; it was a sign of life, a sign of affection that she made to ask about something. Billy turned his gaze and looked through the window, without further result, the pine trees, a good song, some people wanted to take him to the world of rock, while others said that his preferred path was in rap because of his figure. He stopped at a song he liked a lot, "Somewhere Only We Know," "Every's Change" passed through his mind.
Time stood still, as the belfries seemed to stop when the hour struck, the burning sound of a new hour, in terms of inequality, in terms of unity, everything was very different from the commonly thought of life.
The car spun in circles, inhumanly; it spun with force, like a spinning top crashing into a superior force, which pulled and tugged at it, almost vibrating.
Moments before, a small truck, a man about 31 years old, reached his route, a 28-hour journey of continuous work; his final destination was Liverpool. Without paying attention, he had a brief moment of sleep, microseconds, less than ten, enough for him to press the accelerator, at over 100 kilometers per hour, without giving space, he collided with a ceremonial car, followed by the small Audi car in which Billy and Agustina were riding, the impact was so strong that the car lost all control.
As if by chance, the spins became more pronounced; the water allowed the car to skid, with centrifugal force, Billy noticed everything in detail, William's frightened face, checking Billy's signs, simply from his left.
-The seatbelt, - he shouted.
-The seatbelt. –
A reckless turn, without seeing a curve, the car plunged down the small hill, breaking the metal, the roadside safety barrier. The truck on the shoulder was not so fortunate, and it followed suit, causing them to flip like a die thrown on a green casino table, spinning and spinning. Billy felt his arms, unaware, but in his mind, seconds before, as he looked out the window, her smile hollowed out with affection and longing, the warmth of a permissive, sweet, friendly will, unique in its own right... like the stars changing color, in their ephemeral death, like the dawn slipping across the sky.
The world turned into a spicy black, a piercing sound in his ears, like an unpleasant, shrill whistle, just as the rain and screams began to sound on the highway. Franz suffered a blow to the head, while William, after ten minutes, managed to open his eyes slightly, feeling dizzy; the car was overturned, a pulsing, and he closed his eyes in deep unconsciousness. The accident was terrible, of such magnitude that the first ceremonial car managed to maneuver and crash into a pole, the truck lost all control and was overturned. Meanwhile, the black car was destroyed on the side of the road.
It took twenty-five minutes for the ambulance to arrive; the sirens blared, and the police, firefighters, and some paramedics were all there. Another procedure for some, the desolate atmosphere began to convey doubts.
-A terrible accident, - commented the officer in charge.
***
Bad news always comes unexpectedly, at the worst times, it's like a regular call like no other, people connect in something so unpredictable that words get stuck, on an incomplete night, that day, Billy had a reality check.
-Good afternoon, we have a young Billy Carson and Agustina Gonzales, the recommended phone number appears here as Jerry Wexler, - commented a young assistant administrator from Liverpool General Hospital.
An itching filled Jerry's chest; there was a premonition that robbed him of his breath, unwilling to answer the call.
-Yes, ma'am, - Jerry replied, almost drowning in water, his words came out with a disgusting taste, of epiphany, which reminded Jerry of his long life of events, some clear, others so dark.
-Mr. Jerry, this is Liverpool General Hospital speaking, - the administrator said.
-Y-yes, ma'am, - Jerry replied without being able to articulate correctly, unwilling to finish those words, a chill began to spread down his back. Jerry was an old soul, no longer willing to suffer; his tears were no longer tears of accumulation, now he was like a child, he advised himself to cry, he was old, even more, sensitive than when he was young, life was sinister, like a cold punishment, the child he had taken care of for a year, the mother who warmed the heart of any man, and Franz, a lifelong friend.
-Are you listening to me, sir? - the administrator asked, somewhat more subdued upon hearing the broken voice of the old man on the phone.
-Excuse me, but... I'm feeling a bit dizzy, - Jerry said.
The hotel room grew darker the moment Jerry heard the words, so suffocating, two deaths, one in intensive care, two critically injured. It was like a moment of hopelessness when even the air you breathe is difficult to breathe.
-Yes, ma'am. But do you have more information? - Jerry replied.
How painful! To suffer such a tragedy at such a happy moment. The administrator's words ignited a heat of profound defeat, what an inhumane and weary life. He adjusted his breathing; it accelerated with each breath, and he couldn't fully comprehend what was happening; it was all a lie.
He dialed a number, not knowing exactly what to do.
-We have a problem, - Jerry said with a hoarse voice, as he poured himself a drink. Death never sits well; the administrator's information was clear and blunt.
...
For all my readers, who are always aware of this fic, I want you to know that the reading is complete, that is, everything that happens has relevance, and each chapter is planned, in some way by me. Billy's story may seem somewhat unfinished, but it is the reading that I think suits him best, good day.