Enter The Vindicator's Fourth Annual Love Story Writing Contest

It’s time for The Vindicator’s fourth annual Love Story Writing Contest.

It’s the perfect opportunity to have some fun while trying to win a special prize to help make your Valentine’s Day a little sweeter.

You’ll notice that the following fictitious story is missing an ending. That’s where you come in. Tell us how you think this story should end:

THE ACCIDENTAL ENCOUNTER

The fire and medical personnel assigned to Engine Co. 912’s Fire and Rescue Squad were enjoying an unusually quiet New Year’s Eve playing cards, watching TV and chowing down on pizza.

Suddenly the alarm blared, sending them all to their respective lockers to grab their turnout gear while waiting for the county dispatcher to announce the nature of the call and directions to the scene.

“Car vs. tree ... with entrapment” could be heard over the station loudspeaker.

“See, I told ya,” yelled Tim Hunter, a 12-year veteran on the squad, referring to his comment earlier that evening about the likelihood of a motor vehicle accident resulting from the predictable drunken driving this night would bring.

First out the door was Rescue Unit 8, the station’s combination fire-rescue truck. The six firefighters seated in the truck’s extended cab could be overheard reciting the routine they had practiced during numerous training sessions for operating the Hurst Jaws of Life, the squad’s newest piece of rescue equipment.

Next out were Rescue Units 9 and 10, the station ambulances, each staffed with one EMT, responsible for administering basic life support, and one paramedic, to deliver the advanced life support required for treating cases such as the severe trauma often resulting from MVAs.

In the lead ambulance, Hunter readied himself with the equipment most likely to be needed at the scene of the accident. He considered the mechanism of injury — a head-on collision, according to dispatch — and determined he would need to be prepared for head, neck and chest injuries associated with blunt-force impact.

He threw a quick glance toward the gurney to make sure everything he might need was already strapped on. KED Vest and cervical collar to stabilize the victim’s spine during extrication. Check. Sandbags attached to the backboard for further stabilization during transfer to the gurney. Check.

Another quick check assured him his jump bag had all of the necessary supplies to take inside the car with him to administer oxygen, start an IV and apply trauma dressings.

He checked his watch and figured four of the five minutes of the ETA had passed.

He yelled through the small window in the panel separating the driver and patient compartments, asking for an update from dispatch.

That’s when he learned the vehicle had a single occupant. That’s also when he noticed the strange feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Butterflies? Oh for crying out loud! Certainly not! Despite this being his first call since receiving his paramedic certification last week, he had been on hundreds of similar calls in the role of an EMT. Granted, he had never called the shots as the senior crew member like he would be doing for the first time tonight as the “newbie” paramedic, but he remained certain it wasn’t a confidence issue.

More likely, it was the argument he had with Beth prior to leaving her apartment to report for his shift.

She was having trouble dealing with the fact that he had to work tonight instead of taking her to the New Year’s Eve party. Why was she having such a hard time understanding that this wasn’t a matter of choosing work over her? Why was she failing the first test since she insisted she understood the demands of his career when he proposed to her on Christmas Eve?

His mental replay of that heated exchange was interrupted when the back doors swung open and two firefighters released the gurney and pulled it from the “bus.” That was Tim’s cue to exit from the side door.

As he jumped out, he got his first view of the wreckage and its occupant. ...

Your assignment:

Turn what could easily have a tragic ending into a love story. Resist taking a predictable path. Give us a surprise ending that sets yours apart from the other entries.

How to participate:

Email your happily-ever-after ending — using 750 words or fewer — no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, to Society Editor Barb Shaffer at shaffer@vindy.com.

Don’t forget to include your name and phone no. The winners will be notified by phone in time to claim their prizes before Valentine’s Day.

The prizes are:

1ST PLACE: A $100 gift certificate to Julia’s Bed and Breakfast, West Liberty Street, Hubbard.

2ND PLACE: A $50 gift certificate to Full Circle Florist, Elm Street, Youngstown.

3RD PLACE: A two-pound box of assorted chocolates from Philadelphia Candies, provided by The Vindicator.

The three winners and their entries will be published Sunday, Feb. 12.