Higher Power (1st Place)

Gary paced up and down the hall. Dried blood smeared on his grimy shirt reminded him. How did this happen? All my efforts in vain. He leaned forward, pressed his forehead against the wall, closed his eyes, and cried. Please God. Don’t let her die.

………………..

The flatline on the EKG pushed across the screen. The buzzers and alarms added to the chaos of the blinking lights.

“Increase paddles to 200 volts.”

The nurse turned and click up the dial. The tiny child’s body seized and went limp. The EKG blipped for a few beats, and the doctor shook his head. “Again!” The body seized again. The result was the same.

“Again!” the doctor yelled.

“Doctor…” The nurse looked into his eyes. Her gaze steady. “She’s gone.”

“No. She can’t be gone. She’s only eight years old. She just can’t …” He set the paddles on the cart as tears streamed from his eyes.

“It’s ok. You did everything you could.”

“It wasn’t enough. I feel so… helpless. I should have been able to save her.”

“You can’t save everyone. It’s something you’re going to have to learn. Her father is in the waiting room. You need to compose yourself.”

The young doctor wiped his face and sucked in a few breaths. He glanced at the limp and lifeless body. An overwhelming sensation welled inside him, and he dropped his head to pray.

A few moments passed when a blip appeared on the screen -- and then another. The doctor’s eyes alit. The nurse took a few steps toward the child. The EKG pushed out it’s rhythmic beat, and a sweet honeysuckle smell drifted through the surgery room.

The nurse and doctor stared at one another in awe.

“Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone,” the nurse stated.

298 Words




Flash Story
Limted to 300 Words
Must contain the line: "Don't breathe a word of this to anyone"