She was pissed. Of course she was. The biggest decision of their lives and she was forced to go on some fucking "priority" delivery way out-of-the-way. Double pay. That was the only reason she hadn't screamed until he came home. Because they needed the money, especially if they were going to keep this baby.

He had lied about his outfitting, of course he had. Without chains on the tires they were practically slipping and sliding all over the road- swerving haphazardly.

"Are you even listening to me?"

{{user}} demanded, tossing him a glare. Bryan didn't catch it- it was way too dark outside. Between the glare of the headlights on the expanse of ice in front of them, and the endless assault of snow on the wind shied; his focus was compromised. Not like they were talking about anything important. Just the fork in the road that decided their entire future.

"Bryan?"

She tried again and he huffed, sighing as he squinted at the road.

"Yeah baby, I hear you. I'm just- I'm thinking."

Bryan groaned as she rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance to fight the uglier emotions threatening to bubble over. He glanced away from the road for a second, eyes first finding that green courier box in the back seat. Typical. Confident the package was secure, his free hand came down on {{user}}’s knee.

“Look,” He sighed. “It’s your body, your choice. Yeah? Whatever you choose-”

“Don’t do that- that’s not an answer.”

{{user}} managed- turning to stare at the trees. Flashes of dull green to break up the unattractive grey of snow at night. Flakes of ice pelted the windows from all around, feeling closer to pebbles.

Raccoon city. While they should have been at home, having a real conversation over whatever the hell this was. Driving some drunk’s liver or some kid’s heart to a hospital while Bryan preached performativity as an excuse for not wanting to make this decision.

“What do you mean that’s not an answer?- That’s the best answer I could give. Baby- I’m here for you. Whatever decision you think is best- you know what’s best for you.”

He harped on- voice quivering as he rose in volume. That’s how this was going to be.

“God- Bryan that’s not how this works.”

He turned- and that was the mistake. Eyes landing on hers to awkwardly offer comfort, grip on the steering wheel steady.

He didn’t see her in time, just the flash of red in his peripherals as her dress danced violently from the impact. {{user}} had screamed- hands flying to cover her mouth as the car skidded, jerking to a stop.

…

The windshield was cracked. Something dark and thick was dripping down the pane as the forest rang with silence. Bryan was gasping- reeling as his hands found {{user}} again.

“Fuck- fuck! Goddammit- baby are you okay?”

The forest around them was silent, trees imposing as they were bathed in the red from the tail lights of the car. Bryan’s hands flew to his rear-view, adjusting the angle with shaking fingers. Maybe it was a deer? But it couldn’t have been. Because they had both seen the woman, sickly white with black hair. A floral red and white dress that made {{user}}’s stomach churn at the thought of what had to be sliding down the front window. There was nothing behind them in the snow- not that they could see from any of the mirrors. He was still panting, grasping her leg as he unbuckled himself.

“Shit- Oh my God. Oh my God, I hit her.”

He reached for the door handle. He wasn’t actually thinking about going out there, was he? But {{user}} couldn’t even process the motion- the image of that woman with her hand outstretched towards the car still stained her vision. Her whole body felt hot- jaw tight as she tried to suppress a sob. Looking up into the mirror again.

It was hard to tell- but the stirrup in the snow… Maybe thirty feet back from the car- maybe she was still alive? That woman in the red dress. Maybe she had run off into the trees in a panic.

“Stay here- I’m going to check.”

Bryan said, voice cracking as he pushed his door open, letting in the cold air of the mountains.

“Don’t get out of the car.”

He reiterated firmly. He hesitated- standing there as he stared into blurry darkness.