Page 44 of The Second Chance Cinema
“Nice.” Ben rolled his sleeves up a little more and crunched down on another fry. “Yeah. Helping people. I mean, look, I’m not squeamish. I’m good at memorizing things. I want to listen to people, sis. Save them. Give them another chance.”
Ellie sighed. They had usually been on the same page about everything: life was about fun, and excitement, and mischief. While Ellie had flailed around at college and continued to change majors, her brother had found a new purpose. His passion fired up her attitude. “Well, I’m sure they throw great parties, those doctors in training,” she pouted. “You’ll all get to drinking and start practicing your sutures—”
“I’m not going there for the parties, Ellie. I’m going to be studying. I’m going to bebusy—”
“If you’re going to be so busy, I guess I won’t visit you.”
“Don’t get all drama school on me. You know that’s not what I meant.”
“It’s fine,” she insisted. “You’re going to be busy. I won’t visit you.”
The radio announcer brought up the contest again.Spill. Your. Secrets.Ellie sighed and turned the volume down. “I don’t think I ever told you, but …I went on a date with this guy,” she admitted.
“With the radio DJ?”
“DJ makes it sound fancy,” Ellie said. “It’s college radio. I think five people are listening.” Ben skipped the exit that went to campus and moved toward the one leading to his apartment. He must have intuited that Ellie would want to stay there instead of the dorms, a choice that meant he wasn’t holding her tantrum against her. “Anyway, thisDJhad amazing taste in music, but an exhaustive number of food allergies.”
Ben chuckled. “Oh, yeah?”
“It took an hour to order at dinner.”
Ben gave a single “ha.” Ellie smiled.
She often swore they were the same person, but it was their differences that made him better. Ellie liked to sink her talons into a good grudge. Ben was quick to forgive, especially when itcame to her. “I’m sorry I said all that,” she told him. “I think it’s beautiful you want to help people.”
Ben gave her a skeptical eye. “Beautiful, eh? You really think so?”
“I do,” she said.
They got off the freeway, onto a smaller highway, and eventually slowed for a stoplight in a more residential area. As the circle overhead flashed red, an embarrassing thing happened. Tears streamed down Ellie’s face. “I’m being a jerk because I’m crushed that you’re leaving,” she admitted. “You’re my favorite person, Ben. I say that without irony. I look up to you so much. And I’m a jerk because I can’t stand that I’m not going to have you toSpill My Secretsto anymore. And I’m crying because I do think it’s beautiful you want to help people. And also, because—green light.”
“Green light?” Ben asked. He was lost in the middle of her words. This level of confessional was rare for Ellie, even though they were close.
“The light’s green,” Ellie said. Ben didn’t move. “Go!”
Here was her saving grace: something as simple as a green light. She had been about to say something humiliating. The light had helped her reel it back in.Go!She’d said instead.
The car flew into the intersection on her command.Go!Ben’s eyes were transfixed on her, his expression so sympathetic, wanting to help.
Go!she’d said. And he’d listened.
Only, Ben hadn’t looked away from her face. And Ellie hadn’t looked both ways.
Lights filled the inside of the car to Ellie’s right, growing brighter until they became blinding. What was that look on Ben’s face?Surprise. Was it surprise? As if saying, “Whygo?” Why—he must have wanted to know—had she really seen a green light? Metal collided deep in her ears, followed by the punch of anairbag to her chest. The smell of thick chemicals was everywhere, dust deep inside her lungs.
The car began to spin off the road. It wasn’t a real car that could respond this way, was it? So flimsy. It was a toy car on a track, a car moved by a troubled child—by Ellie herself, maybe. Eventually the car stopped. The windshield was busted. Every part of her chest felt bruised, and bits of sharp glass strung in her hair.
“Oh my god.” Ellie reached out for Ben’s arm. “We’re so lucky,” she said, straining to catch her breath. “That could’ve been bad. Really bad. But we’re okay. We’re okay!” She believed this because Ben was always okay. Despite his adventures and escapades, he narrowly dodged the worst side of things.
Only this time, Ellie realized, he hadn’t.
Ben’s airbag had malfunctioned, turning his body into a rag doll over the steering wheel. There was blood on the dashboard. Blood on the sides of his green sweater, like a terrible, sticky belt. Blood pooled out and around on the gray seat of the car. The dinosaur key chain dangled from the rearview mirror.
Ellie searched Ben’s face for help. He would know what to do. He always knew what to do. Helping people—people in emergencies like this—was about to be his specialty. Did she soak up the blood? Did she sit him up straight? Did she get him out of the car?
Air. She needed air.
“Call,” Ben said. His voice was quiet.
