"– Not even breathing?"

"I'm sorry," he repeats. "He just—collapsed, we called an ambulance but—"

"Ambulances can't get anywhere," says Clarice. "Yeah."

She keeps her eyes on the road.

"They'll be here soon, they said. I—I'm gonna hang up."

"Ok."

He hangs up.

Traffic advances as people start routing around the accidents.

Clarice keeps driving, focusing on the road.

She will soon reach the school.

Where she gets out of the car and goes towards the building.

There are slightly less panicked but still harried teachers and minders keeping the children from causing a bigger fuss.

And also her son! Her son is present.

He's frowning.

Well, of course, she lets the teachers and minders know she's there, keeping an eye on him as she does so.

They're happy to hand him off.

Okay, well, she's just gonna take him.

Thanks for watching him today.

You are quite welcome please take care of him and be safe.

She'll try.

She walks back out to the parking lot and gets to the car, realizes her keys are in her pocket and she has both arms around Alexandre, carrying him, and so she just waits there.

Until Alexandre interrupts, asks if they're waiting for someone, which prompts her to set him down to open the car up and get both her and Alexandre in.

Then she sits in front of the steering wheel, looking at the hedge in front of her. This time it only takes half a minute before she's reminded where she is, when she puts the car into gear and pulls out of the parking space, then starts driving home.

Yeah everyone else seems to be on similar boats.

No new people dropping dead, though, apparently.

Well that's fortunate. Maybe she'll get home at some non-ridiculous hour.

It will be... about an hour later than usual. She will see several ambulances going this way and that—but way less than would be strictly necessary for the emergency.

She gets into the house, puts Alexandre down, and phones her husband's number again.

"Yes?" a busy-sounding man answers.

"Sorry, I was calling to ask – I don't, is he – do I need to come to the office?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am, we're very busy at the moment—this is the paramedic—we will process all our patients and contact family once we can."

"Ok," she responds. "– Thanks."

"We're very sorry for this. We will call you once it's less chaotic." Click.