Chapter 2
The blue van rolled out of sight as John looked down at the two crisp one hundred dollar bills in his hand to ensure that his eyes were not deceiving him. He did not expect a reward for helping the woman and her son, but he looked up through the driving snow and thanked God for the blessings that he just received.
As tears streamed down his face, he bent down and picked up the dirty backpack that held the few belongings that he owned and were just as torn, dirty and tattered as the thin shirt and jacket that was his only shield from the cold driving snow. Tossing the bag over his shoulder, he knew what he had to do now. God had finally answered his prayer and sent someone to rescue him from one of the coldest afternoons he encountered since he walked out of the hospital. Also delivering him from something that he never once contemplated since he left the hospital he thought, as he made a serious vow declaring never to allow the thought to cross his mind again, no matter how horrific the days and nights turn out.
His first plan would include going straight to the convenience store a short distance up the road to dry his wet clothes as best he could and tidy his appearance before approaching the teller with a crisp one hundred dollar bill. He would have to spend the money wisely to be able to finally get on his feet and seek answers to dreams, nightmares, as well as quite a few distressful memories.
Two hundred dollars is not a whole lot of money he thought, but being without it for only God knew how long, would be enough to finally shop for suitable clothing to keep him warm as well as presentable enough to finally search for some type of employment.
Since walking out of the hospital the same day he managed to watch television for the first time since waking from a coma, but only to view the horrifying show that continued nonstop for at least an hour. He knew from that moment on that he did not want to see, hear or read about anything so gruesome ever again. Whether it was a movie or something real that took place, he cannot recall exactly, but he will never forget his reaction, no matter whom or what he may not be able to commit to memory.
Over and over again as he recalls, lying in the hospital bed watching the constant explosions, fire, clouds of dust, smoke, people running, screaming, sirens sounding in his head and flashing through his mind as if he was standing in the mist of it all. Realizing that hundreds of bodies were beneath the rubble was shocking enough, but to this day, he is still trying to figure out why he reacted the way he did and why he was a patient at the hospital in the first place.
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