THE CHASM 

By Tessa Harvey


    The senior paramedic bent over the young woman, her gloved hand clearing the girl's airways, and calling for oxygen and a drip. Hastily, she filled a syringe with an ampoule of aminophylline and injected it. Her partner returned quickly and helped her with the mask and drip.
    He didn't seem happy. Casting around for some form of identity, he had glimpsed a minora - a seven branched Jewish candlestick, on the dresser. 
    Passionate and devotion to his country, Palestine, meant everything to him.
    Margaret left a contact card. They had to get the patient to hospital as quickly as possible. She picked up the girl's phone for contact details and let Kahlio drive with full sirens and flashing lights.
    The paramedic sat with the girl. Her colour seemed a little better, but she was barely breathing. It would be close. She radioed with an acute emergency rating to try to avoid a fatal ramping.
    Margaret hurried across the hospital parking lot to her 12-seater vehicle. Carefully she pulled out and indicated left to reach her children's school. She took her job seriously, but was careful that it did not consume or overwhelm her. While she hoped the young woman survived, she was realistic and knew the chances were slim. They had several burns cases today and she hoped the fires were contained. Today there had been no drug overdose cases, accidental or otherwise, and no drink driver accidents. Thank God.
    She pulled into the Ashfield School parent/carer zone and waited. David was at High School and was asking her again about possible relations. How could she tell him her brother had broken contact because two of her five children had unavoidable health issues? 
    Then the younger ones raced to her, laughing, happy!

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