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Months had slipped by since Joshua Bennet last saw Nguyen, an old folk he’d met at Hacker Expo.
That night, over beers, Nguyen had let slip a cryptic detail about his job. He’d been hesitant, offering only a fleeting glimpse before clamming up and downing his drink.
As they parted ways, Nguyen pressed a card into Joshua’s hand, muttering, “If you ever need an emergency job, call and say, ‘My Mac got broken, the screen is cracked.’” Joshua had tucked it away, dismissing it as a quirky footnote to an odd evening.
---
Back in his routine, Joshua’s life was consumed by his role as a software engineer. He thrived on the challenge, but it meant late nights hunched over his laptop, debugging code while the world slept. Family time became a casualty of his dedication. His wife, Emily, understood — or at least tried to. She knew his job kept their lives afloat and fueled his passion, even if it left little room for her and the kids.
One Tuesday evening, Emily approached him, her voice soft but determined. “Josh, we need a break. I’ve found a spot near Austin — a quiet getaway for the weekend. Just us and the kids.”
Joshua glanced up from his screen, eyes bleary. “Sounds great, Em, but I’m swamped. Can it wait?”
“No, it can’t,” she said, firmer now. “You’re always swamped. The kids miss you. I miss you. Let’s leave Friday at 5, right after you’re done.”
He rubbed his neck, feeling the weight of her words. “Okay. Friday at 5. I’ll make it work.”
She smiled, relieved. “I’ll get everything ready.”
But Friday brought chaos. A last-minute bug crippled Joshua’s project, and he knew he couldn’t leave it unresolved. He dialed Emily, guilt already twisting in his gut. “Em, I’m so sorry. I have to stay late. You and the kids go ahead — I’ll drive up tomorrow morning.”
Her silence stung more than words could. Finally, she sighed. “Again, Josh? We were counting on this.”
“I know, and I hate it. It’s just this once — I’ll fix it and be there by lunch tomorrow. Promise.”
“Fine,” she said, voice tight. “Be safe. We love you.”
“Love you too. Drive careful.”
---
Emily packed the car, her disappointment mirrored in the kids’ quiet grumbling. Still, she forced a smile and set off, leaving Joshua behind.
Past midnight, Joshua dragged himself home, the house eerily silent without his family. He collapsed into bed, exhaustion pulling him under fast.
At 3 a.m., his phone erupted, buzzing relentlessly. Groggy, he squinted at the screen — six missed calls from an unknown number. “Spam,” he muttered, silencing it. Then a Telegram message flashed: “Mr. Bennet, please answer the phone. It’s an emergency.” The app rang again.
Fed up, he typed, “Who is this?”
A voice answered, calm but urgent. “Mr. Bennet, this is Nurse Carla from Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Austin. Your family’s been in a car accident. We’ve been trying to reach you.”
Joshua bolted upright, heart racing. “What? No, that’s impossible — they’re on a trip. This some kind of prank?”
“I assure you, sir, it’s not. They were admitted earlier tonight. Please call the hospital and ask for patient number #58949. Hurry — this is real.”
His stomach dropped. He fumbled to message Emily — “You okay? Call me.” — but the texts sat undelivered. He also tried calling her without any success. Panic clawed at him as he dialed the hospital.
---
After an agonizing wait, a man picked up. “Baylor Scott & White, Dr. Martinez speaking.”
“Doctor, it’s Joshua Bennet. My family — what’s happening?”
A pause, then, “Joshua? Joshua Bennet?”
“Yes, yes!” Joshua’s voice cracked. “My wife, my kids — how are they?”
“Mr. Bennet, your children are alright — minor injuries, stable. But Emily… well, it’s serious. I need you here to discuss certain things in person.”
Joshua’s breath hitched. “Serious how? Is she — will she — ”
“We’re doing all we can,” Dr. Martinez cut in, his tone grave. “Please, get here as soon as possible.”
The line went dead. Joshua stared at the phone, terror and guilt crashing over him. He grabbed his keys and stumbled to the car, the road to Austin stretching out like a lifeline he wasn’t sure he could reach in time…
---
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