Love Brings Life 2: The Life Stories Series

By John Inserra Jr.

This is a book of stories that proves Love will stand strong; even in the face of incredible odds.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Inserra Jr.
• Release date: Nov 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386791713

Book preview

Shark Attack

The man is swimming in the warm ocean water. He reviews his recent phone conversation with his wife. It seems lately, all they do is argue. As he takes one stroke after another, the tension in his body releases and his mind clears. He feels peacefully, safe in the water. He does not sense danger!

The man kicks his feet and seconds later, he feels a something large bite his right calf. The predator drags him under the water, but the man punches the huge fish wildly! The stunned creature lets go.

The man is terrified the shark will attack again!  He feels confused but swims forward making as little movement as possible repressing the temptation to trash in the water. Times passes and he is losing strength and blood.  

Exhausted, he reaches shore and with tremendous strain drags himself to the sand, desperate to have every part of his body out of the water. He is in shock; he trembles and grits his teeth, as he looks at his bloody right calf.

He vomits in the sand. His vision blurs, he feels woozy. He screams desperately, Help me! Help me! Before he loses consciousness, he prays, Please God, let me see Susan again."

A father is building sand castles with his daughter. He hears the screams. He turns his head and sees the badly injured man. He runs towards him, as he calls 911. He reaches the man and rips off his shirt. He makes it into a tourniquet and wraps it around the man’s bleeding leg.

He taps the wounded man on the shoulder and asks, Are you okay? The hurt man does not answer.

The Good Samaritan checks for a pulse. There is none.  He starts CPR.  Sweating, out of breath and tired from doing chest compressions, he hopes the paramedics come soon!

Emergency personal arrive and shock the unconscious man’s heart. 

Minutes later, the helicopter airlifts the shark victim to the nearest trauma center.

At the hospital, many nurses and doctors race against the clock to keep him alive!

Several hours later, his wife frantically runs into his ER room and sees her husbands exposed calf bone. She shakes uncontrollably and screams, "No! No! Blood rushes to her head and she holds on to a nurse not to fall. 

Another nurse brings her a chair. Honey, here is some juice. Drink this you will feel better.

Susan sips the juice slowly.

As she sits in the chair, Susan realizes how much she loves her husband. She wants to hold his hand and tell him but regrets their argument earlier today; she chides herself for being so mean to him.

She prays, Please God, don’t let David die. 

She feels so guilty. Her husband may die and she cheated. If he lived, how could she ever look him in the eyes? Would he ever forgive her? Would he ever trust her again?

She remembers how at first it was just an innocent friendship. She never expected she would end up doing what she did.

She hears the doctors whispering.

He is still unconscious. He is not breathing on his own; the ventilator is keeping him alive. 

Another doctor says, I don’t know if he is going to make it the next few hours are critical.  Even if he lives, he will probably lose the leg due to infection.

Susan tells the nurse, I am feeling better. Where is your waiting area I need to get some air?

The kind nurse offers, I will take you there. She holds Susan’s arm, as she escorts her to the ICU waiting room. 

When Susan arrives at the waiting area, she collapses in a chair. Susan buries her head in her hands and weeps. Her head pounds and her body aches.

She thinks about Tom and bites her lip. He is six feet tall, has broad shoulders and blue eyes. He is always laughing and hangs on her every word. He came to work at her office six months ago and as time went by, he started to flirt with her.  She felt desirable.

Soon, Tom invited her out to lunch. She wanted to say no; but he was so attractive. She told him about her marital troubles. Innocently, he held her hand as he comforted her. 

Now, she feels ashamed. How could she be so foolish? She tries to pray. She wants to ask for forgiveness but the words sound hollow. She thinks about last evening and wonders what could have happened. She did not have that much wine to drink.

She remembers that she met Tom for dinner at the Italian restaurant, and ordered a glass of Chablis. Then she excused herself and went to the restroom. When she returned she came back and swallowed a few sips of her drink for courage.

Then she said, Tom, I know what I am about to say may hurt you but I hope you understand. She sipped some more wine.  Tom grinned. What are you saying Susan?

Suzan reached to grab his hand but knocked over a glass of water. I am sorry Tom all of a sudden my head feels woozy; I better slowdown on the wine. 

"It’s okay, I like getting wet."

Tom, I can’t see you anymore.

Tom frowned. Susan I thought what we had was special besides you told me your husband takes you for granted. 

She interrupts him, Tom you are a dear man...then she stops, and says, I don’t feel well will you take me home?

Hours later, she wakes up in a hotel bed naked. She cannot remember what happened after she told Tom to take her home. She calls out but no one answers. The room is spinning. She thinks I could not have been drunk; I only drank several sips of white wine. 

The sheets there wet and stained. She is sore between her legs.  She sorrows, What have I done? I went there to break it off with Tom. Did I sleep with him?

On the nightstand next to her bed, she sees a pink envelope and quickly tears it open.

Her heart sinks!

Last night was great. You were a wild woman. Thanks for one fun night. Talk to you soon, Tom.

How could I have slept with him? I went there to break it off. I only had one glass of wine. I could not have been drunk. What have I done?

Her cell phone rings.

Susan I hate to tell you this but David was out swimming this morning and was injured in a shark attack," David’s boss, Jerry said.

Suzan drops the phone, shocked by the news. Then she picks it back up. How bad is he?

He is in the trauma center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. I have arranged a flight. Can you get to the airport in two hours?

Yes, Jerry, I will be there. Please stay with him until I get there.  Sure, Susan do not worry I will stay with him until you arrive. Its bad, please, hurry!

These memories flood her mind, as she shivers in the cold hospital worrying, if David will live.  She goes to check on him.

The doctors are still working on him frantically. She greets David’s mom and dad. They embrace. Susan wants to pull away but she fears hurting them.

David’s mom asks, Would you like to go with us to the cafeteria, you need to keep your strength up, please come and have something to eat with us.

Susan still feels lightheaded, but she says, Maybe later I want to stay with David.

David’s parents urge her several more times but she continues to refuse, so they leave.

Susan stares at her husband lying there. The she sees his calf; horrified she squeezes her eyes shut not to look at his mangled leg. She regains courage and opens her eyes; David is clenching his teeth; she worries that he is in pain.

She feels lonely. She needs comfort. Her cell phone buzzes; it is a text from Tom. She reads the message. Susan when can I see you again?

She tells herself, I have to talk to him. I have to tell him I cannot see him anymore. I have to explain my husband needs me more than ever and it is over.

She decides to walk out of the ER. She wishes she had a cigarette, she gave them up a year ago; but she sure could use a smoke now. She tells her self it is not a good idea. David was so happy when she attempted to quit a year ago. Sure, she had smoked a few times with Tom; he did not seem to mind.

Outside she sees a gas station a few blocks away. She consider going and buy a pack. Her stomach feels queasy; so she sits down on a bench. She watches some other smokers and she considers asking them if they could spare a cigarette.  

Still not certain, she wants to smoke, she distracts herself, by flipping open her cell phone; she scrolls through her contacts; passing the number of her Pastor’s wife. She debates whether she should call or not? What do I tell her? Can I tell her what happened? Will she judge