Ashley awoke slowly from her nap. She’d slept for three hours. It was now 4:45 p.m. and the snow was still falling though not quite as hard. She guessed there was at least eight inches on the ground.

There was no sign of Kyle. She checked her cell phone to see if he had called and saw four missed calls—all from Him. She also had four messages. She pressed the button to check them.

The first had come at 3:19 p.m. It was from Kyle. “Hey, it’s me. Ah, listen, I just want to say I’m sorry, you know, about last night, but not just last night. I don’t know, about everything. I’ve been thinkin’, and I know I’ve been pretty selfish. Anyway, we can talk more when I get home. I love you, Ash.”

She sure hadn’t expected that. She also knew he wasn’t the only one who’d been selfish.

The second call was at 4:02. “Hey, it’s me again. I guess you’re in a meeting or something. Me, too, but I’m leaving right now. I thought I’d stop on the way and pick up a movie and some Chinese. I’ll get a fire going while we eat and watch our movie. Okay, see you soon. Love you.”

She smiled and had to admit it sounded like fun.

The third call was at 4:38. “Hey, me again. I’ve got the food, but the roads are really bad, so I’m coming right home. Maybe we can find a movie on TV. If you get this, give me a call. Okay? Can’t wait to see you.”

Strangely, she found herself thinking the same thing. She couldn’t wait to see him.

The last call had come in at 4:43, right before she’d woken up. “Ash…it’s me…I…had…an…accident…I…my battery…………dying…”

Kyle’s voice was barely audible. It was hard to make out his words and the line was full of static. She made out enough to know he was hurt though. She pressed the speed dial for him and waited for it to connect. It rang six times, then went to his voice mail. She tried again with the same result.

Next she pressed 9-1-1. An operator picked up on the second ring.

“Please, my husband has been in a car accident. I don’t know where he is. He just called me. Please help me!”

“Okay mam. Where are you?”

“I’m at home, but he called me on his way. He left a message. I just got it. I was asleep.”

“What time did he leave the message?”

“I don’t know. Ah, I think it was about 15 minutes ago. I’m not sure.”

“And do you know where he called you from?”

“No, I don’t know. He was on his way home.”

“What route does he take to get home?”

“I’m not sure. I think he takes Route 22.”

“Would he be traveling east or west?”

“Ah, east. No, no west. He’d be going west on the way home.”

“Okay, I’ll alert the police and the road crews to look for his car. What’s he driving?”

“He’s driving a white Toyota Camry.”

“Okay, so you think he’s driving west bound on Route 22 in a white Toyota Camry?”

“Yes, and he sounds like he’s hurt. Please hurry.”

“I promise we’ll do everything we can to find your husband. Give me your number so emergency crews can contact you once they’ve found him.”

Ashley gave the operator her number and hung up. And then she fell to her knees and wept. She felt so afraid and so helpless. Kyle was hurt and she couldn’t do anything to help him.

For the first time in a long time, Ashley’s thoughts turned to God. It had been months since she’d given Him more than a passing thought, but she needed Him now.

“Oh God, please help Kyle. Be with him now. Don’t let him die. Show them where he is. I love him and I don’t want to lose him.”

The story concludes on Monday, December 22.