Dorian's Destiny: Altered by Amanda Long

forever changed by
their collision.
     

Chapter 6
Collision
     
    “Uh,” the sigh escaped her pale pink lips.
Her weary green eyes scanned the never ending sign-in sheet. On
nights like tonight, Megan trusted in the wisdom of the old saying
that a full moon brought out the crazies, especially if those
crazies were hypochondriacs. Shifting the weight of her small frame
in an attempt to alleviate some of the aching in her feet, she
mentally calculated how long it would take to clear out the
overflowing lobby.
    1,2,3,4 hours, and that's
only if we locked the doors. This night will never end.
    These thoughts of eternal
servitude were interrupted by a familiar voice – one of her favorites.
    “Go home, young lady!” Ordered the motherly
voice. “You have already worked a double shift and I don't have
time to be picking you up off the floor and treating you for
exhaustion, not with all these crybabies, I already have to deal
with.”
    “Josie, be nice!” Megan chided.
    “Oh, don't tell me you weren't just thinking
the same thing. You are just too sweet to speak up.” Yanking the
sign-in sheet from her sight, Josie insisted, “There is not a thing
wrong with half the people on that list. Now, shoo! I can handle
this lot.”
    “Yes ma'am!” Megan acknowledged the command
with a semi salute. “You're coming over for dinner and a movie
Saturday. Don't forget.”
    “I couldn't forget a date with my favorite
girl,” Josie assured, softening her voice, “although you could go
on a real date.”
    Megan rolled her eyes at her suggestion.
“Don't start 'mother', you know I already have the perfect fella at
home so why would I waste my time dating.”
    “Four legged fellas don't count,” Josie
reminded her friend for the hundredth time.
    “Why not? Blaze is perfect,” Megan joked
with a dreamy stare. “He listens to me and likes to snuggle.”
    “True – minus the fur and
fleas,” Josie teased before turning serious, “I just worry about
you being alone.”
    “For the record, Blaze does not have fleas,”
Megan protested, “and I am never alone.” She kissed the cross
dangling around her neck. “I have God, you and Blaze. Who else
could I possibly need? So stop worrying about me.”
    “Never!” Josie stated adamantly.
    Stealing a quick hug and a kiss on the
cheek, Megan headed for the sliding glass doors. “See you Saturday
night. Love you!”
    “Love you too!”
    Stepping out into the crisp cool night,
Megan immediately felt rejuvenated. She relished the night, which
drove her friend and self-appointed surrogate mom crazy. A young
lady has no business wondering around at night alone. She knew
those words might save her life one day and she should probably
heed Josie's warning, but she held no fear of the night nor its
occupants. Without a doubt, she knew she was protected by not only
God, but two guardian angels who were taken from her too soon. She
wasn't delusional believing herself invincible with their
protection. However, she knew where she would end up when her time
on earth ended.
    She lost her parents a year ago in a fatal
car crash involving an intoxicated teen. That event tarnished a
pivotal moment in her young life, leaving the nest and flying on
her own.
    *****
    Late Monday evening, two
weeks after graduating nursing school, Megan was ready to start her
new job in the ER at St. Mary's Hospital. Dressed in frog adorned
scrubs, she raced back inside her tiny one-bedroom apartment to
answer the ringing phone. Bringing the receiver to her ear, she
expected to hear her mom's voice wishing her good luck on her first
day.
    “Hi,” she said excitedly.
    “Ms. Miller?” Questioned an unfamiliar
voice.
    “Yes,” she answered curiously.
    “This is Officer Davis. I am sorry to inform
you but your parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julian Miller, were involved in
a two car collision this evening on Interstate 4.”
    “Oh my God!” She grabbed the cross around
her neck.
    “They were both killed on