Somewhere in Louisiana, time no doubt flew by at a frantic pace, but not here in Sugar Land. It plodded away as if it walked along the low dirt roads in muddy work boots. But change was coming to the small river town, a simple change, but a change none-the-less. And, as it’s often been said, it’s simple things that change our lives. Those common everyday occurrences that often happen at such a creeping pace we’re hardly even aware of it. But, in those precise moments we often find our lives and ourselves changed forever.

A strong, swirling wind had tormented Louisiana’s lowland around the city of Baton Rouge for most of the day. Erratic gusts of slashing rain pelted the window where McRossen “Mack” Blackwell stood silently, watching a barge as it negotiated the bend in the river. The wide, muddy Mississippi River lapped against the levee with swift movements, having swelled her banks with recent rains, reminding him that there was always danger beneath the water’s surface.
As he stood gazing, a murky shape began forming out of the mist, like that of a woman. Piper, he thought, smiling. Then, just as quickly as it formed, it vanished into a wisp of thin air.
Piper Collins-Harding was not the sort of woman a man could easily forget. She was every man’s dream of the perfect woman. She was beautiful, charitable, and most importantly, now single. If nothing else good came from the events of this day, Mack could rest assured that life was not always tragic and sometimes you could get a second chance at love.
Dragging a hand over his roughened jaw, a shallow sense of guilt mixed with relief assaulted him as he turned his thoughts back to the business at hand. He was being relieved of his duties; whether temporarily or permanently he didn’t know. That had yet to be decided. Oh, he had no regrets for the action that caused his present condition; he’d do it again if he had to. But, he did feel a sense of remorse for all the trouble he’d caused his boss, Rudd England. That was one man he never wanted to disappoint.
Rudd was no ordinary man. In fact, it was Rudd who had first seen Mack’s potential as a paramedic. He had given Mack a chance to work his way up to his current position as Flight Medic, helping him successfully pass the two-and-a half hour FP-C exam. Not one to ever forget a kindness, Mack always threw his hat in with Rudd. Besides, he loved his job. He was born to it and everyone around him knew it.
Voices from the hallway drifted through the door to pull Mack out of his thoughts. He turned from the window and watched as Rudd, along with another man walked into the room.
“Mack Blackwell.” Rudd closed the distance between them with an outstretched hand. “This man is Mr. Jay Anderson and he’s here to gather information and witness the exchange of words by order of the company president. Gentlemen…please take a seat.”
Each man casually took their seat around a conference table piled high with maps and loose paper. After clearing a spot for his elbows, Rudd rubbed his hands together nervously and began his inquiry. “So, Mr. Blackwell, please tell us what happened on the afternoon of June 15th after you received a call concerning an accident on Highway 33. And, for the benefit of Mr. Anderson,” he waved his thick hand in the man’s direction, “state your position and your duties.”
“I’m a flight medic. My usual job… is to protect life. But,” his voice was low and deadly smooth, “I made an exception in this case.”