I was en route to the gas station to replace my family's key fob batteries when I spotted a car that had rolled off the cliff above, its nose dipped into the roadside.

A girl stumbled toward me, her face streaked with blood.

"Please," she sobbed. "My dad. My phone isn't working."

I rushed to the wreckage and found her dad trapped in the driver's seat. I called emergency services, but without success. As a nurse, I knew every second could be critical. I quickly assessed the situation and determined it was safe to move him. So I carefully laid him in the backseat of my car while the girl sat in front, fainting as I started driving.

Farther down the road, another wrecked car came into view. A man waved at me frantically, calling for help. I hesitated—the people in my car needed immediate care—so I pressed on to the hospital.

At the ER, EMTs moved the injured onto stretchers. The girl, now conscious, gripped my hand. "Thank you," she whispered before being wheeled away. I stayed to answer a few questions from officers, then left.

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On my way home, I saw the man from the second accident. As I passed by, he looked at me and mouthed words I could barely make out. "He's dead."

The image of his desperate face and cries for help echoed in my head all the way home.

I collapsed into Mom and my brother Dean's arms after they sensed my distress.

Mom caressed my face. "You saved two people," she said. "You did all you could."

Dean patted my back. "It's not on you," he added. "You'll save more."

I appreciated their comfort, but also needed some time alone. So I went for a drive around town. The man's face seemed to haunt me everywhere I went.

Later, a message from Mom jolted me.

'Accident site,' it read. 'NOW.'

The whole way was a blur until I reached the location. Mom's car and Dean's car sat parked along the cliff side. My phone dinged again, this time from an unknown number.

'Him?' A picture showed Dean locked and asleep in his driver's seat. Before I could react, my phone beeped once more.

'Or her?' In this picture Mom appeared, also locked and asleep in her car. 'Since you're so good at playing God with people's lives.'

I opened the glove box to find the key fob with old batteries. Then a movement caught my eye. I looked up to see the cars slowly rolling toward the cliff.

A chill ran through my chest as I realized there would be time to break the window of only one car and stop it from plummeting off the edge.

'CHOOSE.'

I'd do anything for Mom. But Dean could help me stop her car. Maybe then there would be enough time.

'NOW.'

I pushed the door open and ran to the car.