You're Mine

Chapter 45

"ADAM!" Carrie yelled, but he didn't listen.

Sprinting towards the street, she yelled his name again. "ADAM DOUGLAS!"

From behind her, Carrie heard Harrison call their son's name. But Adam kept running towards the tennis ball that now had bounced over the street.

As she tore through the front yard, Carrie saw a car coming down the road. "ADAM! ADAM STOP!"

She knew she wasn't going to make it in time if he kept running. "ADAM!" Taking a look to her right, Carrie knew that car wasn't going to be able to stop in time. The fact that there was a huge bush at the end of the driveway, and Adam was going to come out from right behind it.

"ADAM STOP!" She shouted helplessly another time.

As she continued running, she felt something bump against her leg. Running as fast as she was, the slight bump was enough to throw her off balance, and make her dive forward onto the grass.

The thing that had bumped her was Chance. By the time, she ate grass, Carrie was already getting back on her feet. "ADAM!"

Chance came up behind Adam as he neared the edge of the road. To Carrie, it felt like slow motion as Chance nudged Adam, knocking the little boy to the ground before he could run into the street. Then Chance's momentum took him into the street. Carrie knew she would never forget hearing his yelp and screeching tires as the car hit him.

Carrie made it to the side of the road, first picking up her crying son. Clutching him to her chest, she took a deep breath as her husband's footsteps came up behind her. Still holding Adam, Carrie didn't even want to look over there, but Chance's yelp made her think otherwise.

Handing Adam to Harrison, she ran over to her dog who was laying on his side. "Oh Chance..." she faintly whispered upon seeing him. Just seeing him, she didn't think he was going to make it. Two of his legs were twisted at odd angles, and based on his shallow breathing, she knew there was something definitely wrong inside.

There was a thud, followed by a woman's voice. "I'm sorry," she called to Carrie and Harrison. Coming up behind Carrie, she said again, "I'm so sorry, I didn't see him. There was a bush and  then he-he was just there."

Carrie held a hand up. "Just please give me some space." Harrison came up with Adam, leading the woman away.

Carrie sat down on the road next to Chance. He mustered enough strength, with some help from Carrie, to move his head onto her lap. He tried to move his legs, but yelped.

"Chance..." she mumbled, petting his head as the tears began to come. He licked her hand. Managing a slight smile, she whispered, "good boy."

Chance began to let out a series of short yelps as he tried to move, but failed. "Easy buddy." He tried once again to move, but the pain was too much. "You can let go buddy," she sobbed, "you can let go."

He slowly moved his head from her lap and onto the pavement. Carrie continued to pet him. "You can let go," she repeated.

Chance picked his head up, crying loudly. She leaned closer until she was close enough for him to lick her cheek. "Good boy," she told him as he laid his head back down. "You'll always be my good boy."

Chance laid on the pavement his breathing becoming shallow and slow. "Thank you," Carrie cried into his ear. "For everything."

She sat there for another minute as his body became still. Tears still pouring down her cheeks, Carrie closed his eyes. "May you forever rest in peace."