The darkness seemed to be closing in around me, the velvety night sky smothering my shouts for help like a blanket. But eventually, after what could have been several hours, two lights pierced the blackness. They seemed a long way off, in the distance beyond the brow of the hill. I fixed my eyes back on the girl and the splintering branch. The wind howled through the bare branches of the trees, making the branch crack and sway alarmingly. ‘Don’t fall, don’t fall, don’t fall.’ I repeated under my quivering breath. I prayed to a God I did not believe in, pleading for him to keep the poor girl safe. The lights beamed over the brow of the hill, they must’ve only be half a mile off, and tears of joy prickled in my eyes. I glanced down at my own legs, numb and useless. To my disbelief, a pool of blood was gathering in the crushed foot-well. I gasped, wondering how much blood I’d lost, when suddenly, ‘CRACK!’ The car shook and the sound of glass smashing filled the night air. Terrified, I looked up through the shattered windscreen, which hadn’t been shattered before. I couldn’t see the girl over the huge branch, which had landed on the bonnet of the taxi. At last, the lights approached and drew to a halt on the road that ran alongside the field I’m run into. I heard voices shouting to me, and with all the strength I could muster, I shouted back with a final breath before it all faded to black.
*
Shuffling around the kitchen, Rob poured the coffee and grabbed the morning paper. Aloud he commented- ‘doom, death and destruction- that’s all I ever see in these bloody newspapers.’‘Doesn’t stop you reading them though, does it?’ Tina commented.
‘Well no, I need to keep up with my sport.’
‘Of course dear,’ she pacified him with cold, idle chatter whilst sipping at her ‘super-berry-detox smoothie, which Rob thought resembled some sort of fruit massacre. They went about their individual routines, barely touching until the clock hit 7:00am, when Rob kissed his lover on the cheek and hugged her from the side. ‘See you later sweetie, and drive carefully,’ her sing-song voice ushered him out of the door.
The dashboard clock of Rob’s taxi flicked to 7:29am just as he pulled up outside the large town house. The huddled figure at the front door wore a long fur coat and was struggling to lift an old leather trunk. Rob rushed up the garden path to help Mrs McDevon with her luggage, and was greeted with a sincere smile. ‘It’s good to see you Robert. How are you?’
‘Oh I’m alright ma’am; pottering along, yourself?’
‘Well I’m quite looking forward to this little break, I do enjoy a good change of scenery every once in a while.’
‘Very good ma’am,’ Rob replied as he opened the back door of the taxi and helped his passenger up into her seat. Once he’d climbed into the driver’s seat, he automatically tuned the radio to Classic FM, and they drove off in amicable silence.
*
‘Rob, Rob, can you hear me?’ ‘Robert, can you open your eyes for me please?’
‘Open your eyes please Rob.’
I heard them but I felt so far away, like I was underwater. I strained to surface, using all my will-power to try and open my heavy eyes. But I couldn’t, it felt as though my eyelids had turned to lead. My first thought was for the girl, was she alive? That was enough to push me to the surface and as I opened my eyes I was welcomed by bright white lights and a sea of concerned faces. I tried to lift my head but it appeared to be strapped down between two orange-coloured blocks. ‘Rob, lie still for me there please.’ A red-haired nurse said.
‘The girl,’ I croaked out,
‘She’s unconscious but stable, she’ll pull through.’ The nurse assured me, ‘now let’s focus on you Rob.’ I glanced down at my body, and although it was all there, I could only feel my torso and my arms. Filling with panic, my chest started heaving as I fretted. ‘What is it Robert? What’s wrong?’ A dark-skinned doctor with a stethoscope around his neck peered down at me. ‘My legs,’ I panted, ‘I can’t feel my legs.’
‘We need to send you for a scan before we can confirm anything Robert, but we suspect you have a severe spinal injury.’ The doctor’s face was serious.
‘Tina! Does Tina know?’ I asked, concerned.
‘We’ve contacted her, yes,’ soothed the nurse, ‘and she’s on her way.’
‘How bad are we talking?’ I questioned, though I half-suspected the answer.
‘We can’t be sure of anything at this stage, Robert. It’s best not to speculate.’ The doctor’s answer was vague and diplomatic. But my main concern was for the girl; was she awake yet? What if she never wakes up? Will she make a full recovery?
*
Lilly wanted to get the bus to her new school- after all the nearest bus stop was only a ten minute walk away, but her mother insisted on driving her. As she stirred her cornflakes around the bowl, her mobile buzzed. The screen lit up with one name; ‘Ryan,’ and Lilly’s heart skipped a beat. She’d been dating Ryan Williams, the school bad-boy, at her last school and despite her doubts, he’d promised to stay in touch with her once she’d moved. She opened the message which read ‘Hi Lilz hope ur skool is beta dan kingz grov luv Ry x x x.’ Okay, so he wasn’t the best at spelling or grammar, but he was hot- all cheekbones and biceps. Quickly she tapped into her phone ‘Thanks babes, I’m a bit nervous but it’ll be okay. I love you, Lilly x x x.’
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