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The Separation

We flipped what felt like ten times. The airbags deployed, and I felt a sharp pain in my back. I looked over at Beulah, and saw her just holding on as tight as she could, closing her eyes. I was holding tight too. I looked forward again and closed my eyes. I didn't want it to end like this. I might have passed out for a minute or two because I don't quite remember us coming to a stop. When I finally caught my bearings, I looked over at Beulah. She had a busted lip, and blood running down her forehead. We must've been on the shoulder, because water was already rushing in. The truck had come to a stop on Beulah's side, so if I tried to unbuckle, I would fall on Beulah. Beulah was quickly soaked by the rainwater. She was unconscious. I tried to pull her up out of the truck, but my back surged with a sharp pain. The truck rocked from the wind and Beulah woke up. She looked at me and then down at her window. Beulah tried to move, but she winced and grabbed her right side. Then, she looked at me with a doomed expression. The water was rising. "Go," she said, "escape, dear. While you can." "No," I said, "it can't all end. Not here!" I tried to pull her out of her seat by her arm. She winced, and grabbed her side again. The wind rocked the truck again. "Dear, this isn't going to work, you need to get out before we tip over," she said, "I'm going to be fine." I melted down. "But you told me yourself you finally had someone to live for." I said. She calmly looked at me and said, "Dear, having someone to live for means I have someone to die for. Now you go, and save yourself. Remember, the storm is still on its way... The radio has an SOS button." Beulah reached into the glove box and held up her handheld radio. The tiny metal antenna had bent in the middle. "Take this, dear. It'll help you track the storm," said Beulah. I grabbed the radio. "What about you?" I asked. "Don't you worry about me. I'm going to see my husband again. It's been 21 years. I'm ready," she said as the water rose to her chin. "Thank you," she said, "Truly, Samantha Selman, thank you. I was always terrified of dying alone. Just know that vengeance never wins." She smiled at me as the water rose above her mouth and nose. She closed her eyes, and let the freezing cold consume her. The truck started rocking again. I tried not to fall apart as I unbuckled and scrambled out of the truck. It was like I was in the middle of a lake. The water was freezing cold. On the side of the truck, there was an emergency raft that Beulah had put on the rear door. I took it out, and tried to figure out how to get it to work. Beulah had shown me, but under all this pressure, I struggled to get it to work. Eventually, I pulled the string to open it. I got in the raft, pressed the SOS button, and collapsed.