The Crash

[some dude†]

No, only one movie today." Paul Schutz said to his son as the boy and his parents walked out of the theater. Nate grumbled a little, but his protests faded once Paul offered to buy him ice cream on the way home.

Nate had only recently turned thirteen, but they had postponed the celebration until today, and for good reason. Today had been the most convenient day to see The Avengers. Both Paul and Nate had followed the Marvel Cinematic Universe up until this point; Lydia had been more or less dragged along.

She didn't mind, though.

Father and son waved goodbye to her as she left for home in her car, then climbed into the seats of their own vehicle.

The drive out of the lot took slower than usual. Paul yawned and glanced out towards the street. Traffic was shaping up the be bad. Annoying, but y'know, whatever man.

He looked over at his son. Nate was a fine kid, tall for his age and very similar to Paul. He was squinting his eyes against the sun. Paul's eyes went towards the car mirror, noting the aviator glasses on his head. He took them off and passed them to his son. "Hey, bud, you look like ya might need these." he said, only a touch of his German accent still noticeable after all these years in America.

He pulled out onto the road. There was a sudden squealing noise and a car came roaring at the passenger side of the car. His eyes widened in alarm. Not Nate.

Almost instantaneously, Paul reacted. He threw the steering wheel left, swerving the car into another position.

The other car slammed full-force into the door of Paul's vehicle. He felt his arm snap. His head whipped to the side, then slammed hard into the window.

Then, black.

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Nate woke up to sirens. His head was pounding, and he felt sharp pains everywhere on his body. He shakily pulled the glasses off and looked at them. Silver rims, black glass. His father's glasses. Despite a sudden pain in his neck, Nate looked over at his father.

A cry escaped his mouth.

Although the airbag had deployed, his father's head had slammed against the window, nearly shattering it. Now his father's head rested on the airbag.

Nate unbuckled his seatbelt and pulled Paul from the airbag. He held on to the broken body for what seemed like an eternity, until finally, he was pulled off screaming by a paramedic.

"Poor kid..."