It was a windy day on Hwy 302, leaves scattered on the asphalt. The rain pelted the windshield, making

it hard to see, as the wipers swiped. I wasn't going that fast, but I felt the rear tires slide. Wet leaves made
this road too slippery to drive on. As I slowed and approached a curve in the road, there she stood! She

was a pregnant woman, in her 30's, wearing a blue skirt. She also was wearing a white maternity top, with a
logo, I couldn't make out.
                                                                                                                                  
Before I could stop and help her, she turned and walked back into the woods. I didn't see a car any where,

and no houses near-by, as I drove on. But her sadness in her eyes tugged at me, as I tried to figure things out.
I should have stopped damn it, I should have offered her a ride. I slowed, and stopped, making a u-turn, as

I tried to remember where I had seen her.I stopped twice, but the third time I stopped, I was sure that this

was the place!

 

Yes! She had stood by that tall evergreen tree, because there is the large boulder, I remembered. I parked,

and got out, as bitter cold rain drops stung my face and neck. The chilly wind bit at my ears. I called out,
asking if she needed a ride to town, but there was no response. Just the rustling of wind through the trees

was heard. Then, to my relief, I heard her soft but frightened voice.
 
"Wait! Please don't leave, I’m so sad and need your help, please help me"? I still couldn't see her, but her

voice ached with desperation. I called back to her, "I am here, I won't leave, I promise. Please come out of

the woods"? To my relief, she stepped out from behind a tree, soaked to the skin. Instinctively, we went to

each other, and I took off my jacket and wrapped it around her as she hugged me. She was maybe 8-9

months pregnant, and I knew she needed a blanket.

 

But when I offered to get one out of my car, she cried, "No, just hold me"; and I felt her warm tears rolling

down my cheeks, mixing with my own. Between her tears and mine, we smiled, and I kissed her cheek, and

told her, she was going to be okay! She thanked me for stopping, for caring, and that I was the only one who

had stopped. I told her I was going to take her to the hospital, and she reluctantly pulled away from me, and

her sadness tore at my heart.

 

She looked down at the ground a moment, and then asked me my name? I told her my name was Raymond,

and she smiled a little smile, and whispered, her name was Marsha. Then she said there was only one thing that

I could do for her. She reached down, and put my hand in hers, turned, and led me deeper into the forest.

Then she stopped, and I didn't know why, at first, but then I saw it. It was her car, crumpled against a huge

cedar stump, over-grown with saplings, vines and wild black berries. I could see her body, slumped over the

steering wheel.

She turned to me, with tears in her eyes, and I wrapped my arms around her, as we cried. As I held her, I

whispered, "I am so sorry you died Marsha"! I felt her body tremble as she tried to speak. She asked me to
promise to tell the police where her car was, so that she could be buried proper, and I promised.

 

In a few minutes, she kissed my cheek, and thanked me for my kindness, and she took a few steps back,

and gave me a small wave good-bye. She whispered, "Thank you Raymond, I will never forget you"; and as

she disappeared, I watched my coat fall to the ground.
 
©2002 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)