Do your job

(Flekscale Website)

It had been two weeks since the story. So much celebrations. The story had won a global award. He was still receiving gifts and praises from everywhere for his good job. Nevertheless, he was very uncomfortable. The memories of the day still haunted him, he could have done something.

It was a hot day just like any other. His boss had sent him to cover the story. He was given a news van and a camera. He would have to do the picture taking and the writing of the story on his own. He felt something was wrong from the very beginning, but he could not figure what would happen next.

He arrived at the accident scene. The two cars were badly damaged and everyone close by was looking, waiting for the emergency service to come. He put on his press jacket and went to the site. He started taking pictures when he heard the groaning of a woman. He was immediately shocked and tried to find the source of the groan.

He found her sticking her arm out, calling for someone to help her. He started pulling her out. It was then that he received a call.

“Have you reached?”

“Yes sir, I have but…”

“But what?”

“There is a woman stuck in her car, I am trying to pull her out.”

“Wait a minute, did I send you there to play hero or cover the story?”

“But sir I can help”

“Listen to me boy, leave her alone and cover the story. The ambulance people will help her.”

“But sir…”

“If you do not come back here with a story, consider yourself fired.”

He looked at his phone, then at the woman, then back to his phone. His boss had hanged up. He had to choose, save or cover the story. He looked at the lady. She was still writhing in pain, asking to be saved. He thought about himself. He had just started this job. He had a wife and child to feed. He could not afford to lose this job.

He heard sirens from a distance. Good, she will be saved. He moved back and continued taking pictures. Out of the blue, the car the woman was stuck in exploded in front of his face. The last sound he heard was the crackling of the fire. He woke up to find himself in hospital, being treated for shock. He was released and he went straight to the office and wrote his story. He submitted it to the boss together with the pictures. It turns out he took the best pictures of the accident, thus the rewards.

The rewards and accolades however could not hide his guilt. He would have saved the woman, he would have done something. Now she is dead and her family have to rely on the beautiful pictures taken as she lost her life. He had received their emails, accusing him of killing their own.