Gerald shifted his eyes to the speedometer. Going nearly 100 down the two-lane highway in the middle of the night was probably not the greatest plan he’d ever had, but what choice did he have? The large wolf tightened his grip on the steering wheel and stared grimly into the blackness ahead. There was no thought of sleep, only speed.

A ding. Gerald glanced down. Gas indicator. Shi

Still, the wolf had a thought. His cell phone lay in pieces in the back of his truck where he’d thrown it in fury after the battery had died 150 miles ago. A gas station would have a pay phone.

His claws left furrows in the plastic as he scraped gummy quarters and dimes and nickels from the residue-coated plastic. The truck wasn’t his – a loaner from his friend. It rocketed through the night as he pressed down harder on the accelerator.

Davie was all he ever wanted. The wedding was next week. His parents had come to accept it, but Davie’s parents were amazing. They’d planned the whole thing. Davie loved the attention. Gerald could still hear Davie’s mother. Car accident. Car accident. Hospital. Hurry.

Lights ahead. Gerald slowed barely as he came upon a gas station. He swerved down the side road and screeched into the stall. His hands shook as he fumbled with his wallet, cursing all the while. He dropped his card once before managing to slide it into the reader on the pump.

“Come on, come on…”

He bared his teeth at the machine as it hummed to itself. A tinny version of an old country song floated down from the speakers above as moths buzzed around the lights. The pump finally told him to begin fueling.

He already had the nozzle in and set it at full blast, then ran for the building. The pay phone was on the right side and unoccupied. He jammed a dollar’s worth of change into the machine and dialed. The number for the room at the hospital was burned into his brain. No need to remember.

“Hello?”

His voice. His voice. So calm. Gerald sagged against the phone. “Oh baby, I’m coming, just hold on. Just wait for me.”

“Gerald, it’s okay. I’m alright.” His voice had the laugh in it Gerald loved.

“I know, I know, just wait for me. Hold on.”

“Gerald… remember when we met?”

The wolf sobbed into the mouthpiece, his backside lurching as great heaving coughs wracked his body.

“You were so handsome. I was the envy of all the other boys. My friends never forgave me.”

Gerald whimpered, unable to help himself. “I’ll be there soon, I promise, just hold on. Hold on for me.”

“I’m okay, Gerald.” The voice grew faint. “I love you.”

“Davie? Davie! Davie!” The wolf slammed the receiver against the side of the phone box. It snapped in half. He shouted into the receiver anyways. “Davie!”

There was no reply.

Gerald dropped the receiver, letting it hang by its wires. He sprinted towards his car, slammed the nozzle into the machine, and screwed on the cap before lurching into the cab and squealing off, leaving twin rubber tracks behind him.

An old black rabbit squinted out the window.

“Martha… did the telephone company finally come around?”

A voice from the back room replied. “No, Harry. Call them again tomorrow.”

The rabbit scratched his head. “You sure? Seemed like a fella was making a call just now. Was in a mighty hurry. Didn’t see me waving at him.”

“Maybe they did come by. Go out and check it.”

The rabbit slowly got off his stool and walked out from behind the counter. He glanced at the clock. Almost 9 p.m., closing time. He hobbled out the door and to the phone.

* * *

The hospital. Finally. Gerald slammed the truck to a halt in front of the main doors, threw it in park, and leapt out of the cab. He ran for the stairs, dodging people in wheelchairs and nurses and doctors who looked at him with sympathy in their eyes. Everyone knew what a run like that in a hospital meant.

The wolf pounded down the hallway on the second floor. Why had he gone on the trip? Why was he 500 miles away from the only person he’d ever loved? Stupid, so stupid.

Gerald burst through the doors to the C Ward. His eyes widened and he skidded to a stop. Davie’s mom ran at him, throwing herself around him. Davie’s dad hung back, crying into a handkerchief.

“Gerald I’m so sorry oh Gerald I’m so sorry Gerald oh Gerald” Davie’s mom babbled.

“Where is he?”

Davie’s mom leaned against him, crying loudly, almost keening. A nurse stepped in, wrapping her arms around the wailing vixen.

“I’m sorry, Gerald, but he’s gone. There was nothing we could do.”

A cold blackness rushed through the wolf. The ward span around him.

“When?” How was he on the floor? He didn’t remember sitting down. An orderly was helping him to his feet. But he didn’t want to be on his feet. “When?”

“After your cell phone died… just a little while after. I’m so sorry.”