Small Bump (Short Story)

Everett Vinson, Blueprint Staff

 

Rain pitter-pattered the windshield as I drove on the dimly lit highway that late night. Usually, I’d admire how the street lights look against the dark sky, but I just gripped the steering wheel hard as I thought about how she could think her radical action was justified. I grunted as I turned on the radio to try to calm me down. The first thing I heard was: “I don’t care if you don’t, I don’t care if you don’t, I don’t care if you don’t care!”

Just hearing those words come out of my radio made me grip my steering wheel harder. Thoughts clouded my mind as I felt like I needed to scream. Why would she do that?! Doesn’t she know she’s killing it?! Doesn’t she remember what happened to Mom?! Why the hell would she think this is right?!

Looking out into the stormy night I see I’m approaching a traffic light that has turned red. In my rage, I didn’t realize how fast I was going and I slammed on the brakes. The car skidded to a stop and if I would have realized any later, my car would have collided with the truck ahead of me. I took a deep breath as I listen to the current song, Jesus of Suburbia “I don’t feel any shame, I won’t apologize, where there ain’t nowhere you can go. Running away from pain, when you’ve been victimized. Tales from another broken…”

I switched to another station, already feeling the anger rise within me again. As I waited for the light to change, I heard this come out of the radio; “We’re not gonna take it! No!! We ain’t gonna take it! We’re not gonna take it, anymore!!” The light turned green and as soon as the truck started to move, I slammed my foot down on the gas. As I did, the truck changed lanes, leaving me free to hit rubber to the road. By this point, my mind was made up and thought my feelings were justified. I let my attitude sway with the emotions expressed in the song and was determined to stop her.

“We’re right! We’re free! We’ll fight! You’ll see!!” The song blasted as I let out a yell with the song, the car increased speed and was going over 70, the normal speed limit. I held on to the wheel tight as I made the car go faster.

I started to shout, “You think you can just go and do this, Taylor?!” The car’s speed was at 76 miles per hour and still climbing. My eyes narrowed as I focused on getting there as soon as possible. I felt my face getting hot with fury.

“Did you just forget about what happened to Mom?!” I gritted my teeth as I zoomed down the highway, “You’ll regret this decision for your whole life!!” The speedometer read a steady 80 as I kept it around there. I suddenly heard blaring sirens as I realized I just ran a red light. I swore as gripped the steering wheel hard as the next song played.

It took me off guard as I heard the lyrics; “You’re just a small bump unborn, in four months you’re brought to life.” I loosen my grip on the wheel, only for a second as I tried to refocus.

It didn’t help, however, as the next line I heard was, “I’ll hold your body in my hands, be as gentle as I can. But for now, you’re a scan of my unmade plans, a small bump. In four months you’re brought to life.” Hearing those words repeated over and over made me tear up, and started to cry.

I thought about everything surrounding that night. That night twenty-two years ago when my mom sat me down. I was only five at the time, but I still remember the look in her eyes. That sadness I felt that would never leave her eyes as she told me the baby… the baby she was expected had died before getting here. And as a five-year-old that shocked me, heck it scarred me. For a full year, I had thought I’d never feel happy or see my mother happy again until Taylor was born. It was almost like she had taken all the sorrow away from our house.

I never told her this, but Taylor filled the void that I felt for a year. She gave me joy when there was none. She… she breathed life back into me when I felt like nothing but dirt, and now… what? I’m driving from the cops trying to stop her from getting an abortion. ..Wait…

I’m sucked back into reality to feel the weight of my decisions. I dry my face with my sleeve as my mind scrambles to come up with a plan. Just then my phone rings and I try to grab it from my jacket pocket. I turn it on and see it’s from Taylor, and start to type in my password.

Looking up to check the road I realize a sharp turn was approaching sooner than I was expecting. I stomped on the brakes and quickly turned the wheel, but it was too late. My car didn’t make the turn and smashed into a tree. I didn’t see much, but I did see glass break and pieces of the car go flying. I felt something hit my head hard while a sharp pain followed. A warm liquid which I assumed was blood trickle out of my left ear, as well as a lot of blood run down my face.

My vision was getting clouded, and using the last of my strength I look at my sister’s message. It said; “Danny, I’m sorry for arguing with you. I realized you were right, and I decided to keep the baby. I found out that it’s a boy! You’re the best big brother ever, and I can’t wait for you to met him!”
Gasping my last breath, I muttered, “Wel-welcome to the world… little buddy”