Just imagine...
You and your lovely wife are out for a romantic long-weekend in the Scottish Highlands. It's been years since you had any quality time together, what with bringing up the kids and working all the hours that God sends. But hey, the kids are older now, and the grandparents are delighted to spend a little time with their grandchildren, so this trip is just the ticket.
The weather, however is terrible. Gale-force winds and punishing, driving rain, and the late hour are doing their best to take the shine off the occasion, but both your spirits remain high. It's only another mile to the holiday cottage that you've rented, so there's no way you're stopping now.
On the B874, between Janetstown and Shebster, with the wipers on maximum, peering through a semi-fogged screen, you hit the brakes hard when you suddenly notice an old broken farm trailer, abandoned at the side of the road. It's clearly been there for years. The front of the trailer is parked well enough, but the back end is hanging out over the verge, into the road.
Screeching tires, a terrifying smashing sound, sparks, and then... Black.
You awake goodness knows how many minutes later. Or was it hours? A nasty cut on your head has already started to congeal. It hurts, but you'll be alright. You look to the passenger side.
"Are you alright Sarah?"
"Sarah?"
"Sarah, can you hear me? Are you okay?"
Silence.
Gently, you turn her head towards you. The left side of her head is smashed in. Eye socket gone. Massive blood-loss. The trailer bed had come through the windscreen and... well, you know the rest.
You check her pulse. Yes! She's alive. Okay. Hold it together. It's important not to panic. You know where you are because you're only a mile away from the house and you have the address in your wallet.
You reach for your mobile phone. 999.
Nothing happens.
Shit! No signal.
Now what? You look around for lights. There must be a house somewhere near. It's only 9pm. Somebody will still be up.
Nothing.
"There's nothing for it", you say to yourself. "I'm going to have to get to the cottage and raise the alarm myself".
You set out into the howling wind, leaving the hazard warning lights on.
After about 15 minutes you reach the cottage. Well, presumably this is the right cottage. You slip the key into the lock. The lock turns! Yes! Stepping into the hall you find the lightswitch and turn on the hallway light. Nothing. Damn it. There must be a power cut.
Using the light on your mobile you find the phone on an old-fashioned three-legged corner-table just behind the living room door.
You pick up the phone. Wait for the dial tone.
And wait.
And wait.
You check the phone socket on the wall. It's one of those new VOIP RJ45 phone sockets, and right next to it, under the phone, on the floor is the router, plugged neatly into the phone and a nearby mains socket.
And there's a power-cut.
That's when you realise. You are alone. Totally alone. The only thing that can now possibly keep your wife alive, is you.