The first responders took over instantly. They pulled the woman from the vehicle and laid her on the concrete. Pedro stepped back, breathless, watching them work. They began CPR immediately, their movements precise and practiced.
Minutes ticked by like hours. The sirens of an ambulance grew louder in the distance. The woman was still motionless. Pedro leaned against the brick wall of the drive-thru, praying he hadn’t been too late.
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The ambulance arrived and rushed her to the hospital in critical condition. Police arrived to take statements and secure the vehicle. When they checked the woman’s identification to notify her family, the officers went quiet.
She wasn’t just a mother. The badge in her wallet identified her as an off-duty police officer. She had spent her life protecting the city, and today, a fast-food worker had been the one to protect her.
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