On the Road — Late Afternoon
The sun hangs low over the road. Traffic moves steadily as Brooke drives toward Isaiah’s house, hands gripping the wheel tightly, her expression full of worry. She keeps glancing at her phone but doesn’t touch it — her mind is somewhere else.
BROOKE: I just need to talk to him.
She takes a deep breath and keeps driving. The road ahead grows busier. Then — a familiar figure appears ahead. Brooke’s eyes widen. It’s Isaiah, walking near the side of the road. For a split second, she freezes.
BROOKE: Isaiah?!
She slams the brakes. The car swerves.
BROOKE: Oh my God!
The tires skid across the road. Brooke turns the wheel desperately, but the car doesn’t respond quickly enough. Isaiah looks toward the vehicle, his expression changing instantly. The car strikes him. Everything goes silent.
Brooke’s car finally comes to a stop. She sits frozen behind the wheel, breathing heavily, hands shaking. She looks through the windshield — Isaiah is lying on the side of the road, badly hurt but conscious. Her face turns pale.
BROOKE: Isaiah…
She throws open the car door and rushes toward him.
The Accident
Brooke drops to her knees a short distance away, terrified. Isaiah struggles to stay focused.
BROOKE: Isaiah! Can you hear me?
He looks toward her, voice weak.
ISAIAH: Brooke…
Brooke covers her mouth, fighting back tears.
BROOKE: I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.
Isaiah closes his eyes for a moment. Brooke looks around desperately — several people have stopped nearby, and one is already calling emergency services. She stays beside him, afraid to move him.
BROOKE: Please stay awake, Isaiah. Please.
Isaiah slowly opens his eyes again.
ISAIAH: It… wasn’t your fault.
BROOKE: I should have stopped.
Sirens echo in the distance. Police vehicles approach the scene, and an ambulance arrives moments later. Paramedics move quickly toward Isaiah. Brooke steps back, overwhelmed.
The Police Arrive
A police officer approaches Brooke.
OFFICER: Ma’am, step away from the vehicle.
BROOKE: But Isaiah—
OFFICER: The paramedics are taking care of him. Please step over here.
Brooke reluctantly moves away, watching as Isaiah is carefully placed onto a stretcher, her eyes filling with tears.
BROOKE: Is he going to be okay?
OFFICER: They’re taking him to the hospital. They’ll give you more information when they can.
Brooke nods slowly, completely shaken. The officer returns after examining the scene.
OFFICER: Were you driving this vehicle?
BROOKE: Yes.
OFFICER: And you were involved in the collision?
BROOKE: Yes. I lost control. I tried to stop.
The officer listens carefully.
OFFICER: Brooke, you’re being taken into custody while we investigate what happened.
BROOKE: What?
OFFICER: You need to come with us.
BROOKE: Please. I just want to know if Isaiah is okay.
OFFICER: You’ll be able to get more information once we finish processing the scene.
Brooke begins crying.
BROOKE: I never wanted this to happen.
The Arrest
The officer gently places handcuffs on Brooke. She looks down at them in disbelief — her entire world seems to have stopped.
BROOKE: This can’t be happening.
She looks toward Isaiah as the ambulance doors close.
BROOKE: Isaiah!
The ambulance begins pulling away. Brooke watches helplessly, tears rolling down her face.
BROOKE: Please be okay…
The police escort her toward their vehicle. She turns around one last time — the road filled with flashing lights, the damaged car sitting silently nearby, the ambulance disappearing into the distance. She lowers her head.
BROOKE: I just wanted to talk to him…
The police car door opens. Brooke gets inside. The door closes.
The Hospital
Later that evening, the ambulance arrives at the hospital. Doctors and nurses rush Isaiah inside. His family receives an urgent call. The hallway fills with tension.
Meanwhile, Brooke sits alone at the police station, still trying to understand how everything changed so quickly. Her eyes are red from crying. An officer walks into the room.
OFFICER: We’re still investigating the accident.
BROOKE: Can you please tell me how Isaiah is doing?
The officer pauses.
OFFICER: The hospital is treating him. That’s all I can confirm right now.
Brooke closes her eyes and takes a shaky breath.
BROOKE: I hope he knows I never meant to hurt him.
The officer says nothing. Brooke looks down again. For the first time, she realizes the argument she planned to have with Isaiah no longer matters. All that matters now is whether he will be okay.
A Painful Wait
The night grows darker. At the hospital, Isaiah remains under medical care. Outside, his family waits anxiously for news.
At the police station, Brooke sits silently, replaying the moment she first saw Isaiah on the road — the sudden panic, the screeching tires, the impact. Her eyes fill with tears again.
BROOKE: I’m so sorry, Isaiah.
She looks toward the small window in the room, the city lights shining outside. She takes a deep breath, knowing tomorrow will bring questions, consequences, and difficult decisions. But tonight, she has only one thought.
Isaiah has to survive.