Page 2 of Devoted

The paramedics arrive seconds later and everything happens in a blink of an eye. The mother is extracted from the front seat and belted to a gurney, the little boy follows, and the driver of the truck is examined in the back of the ambulance as the other two are transported to the hospital.

“Hey, you did good.” One of the paramedics comes up to me, resting his hand on my shoulder.

“I don’t feel like I did much…”

He shakes his head at me. “No. You did a lot. You comforted that mother and her son in a situation that is unprecedented for any parent to find themselves in. You held his hand while we did our jobs. You were devoted to making sure that he didn’t feel alone. That’s something that not most people can do.” A wave of pride washes over me as the paramedic grins. “You ever think about going into the medical field?”

I lift both of my shoulders in question. “No. I mean, I haven’t exactly decided on what I want to do with my life yet.” It’s a decision that’s been in the back of my mind, keeping me awake at night. I feel like I should know by now what I want to do for a career, especially since I’m so confident about other choices I make.

“Well, don’t knock it. I think you have a calling. You ran to the scene without a moment’s hesitation. We need people like that saving lives.” His eyes pop up now to stare at my parents and sister standing behind me. “You two should be proud. Your daughter did a noble thing tonight.” The sun has set in the distance between the time we pulled up on the accident and the victims were ushered away.

I can see the heavy breath that leaves my mother’s chest as she pulls me into her, wrapping her arm around my shoulders, and my sister leans in to hug me. My father rests his hands on my free arm and reaches to shake the EMT’s hand.

“Thank you. We are proud, even though I was furious with her in the moment.”

The paramedic laughs. “Understandable. But thanks again for calling and staying strong. Have a good night.” He turns on his heel and heads back to the fire engine as multiple police and other rescue workers attempt to make sense of how the accident even happened in the first place.

And as they assess that situation, I attempt to make sense of the overwhelming impression of purpose I feel radiating in my chest. Tonight I may not have helped save a life medically, but I helped a mother and her child stay calm in an emergency—and that’s an experience I’ve never had before.

And now that it’s cemented in my brain and my heart, I’m almost positive it’s one I want again.

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