Hit And Run
The world seemed to slow to a crawl as I found myself airborne, my body propelled by the force of the speeding car. Everything felt surreal, like I was watching a scene unfold in slow motion. I braced myself for impact, the rush of air whipping past my ears drowning out any other sound.
My torso slammed into the hood of the car with a dull thud, followed by the sickening crack of glass as my head made contact with the windshield. Time seemed to stand still as shards of glass scattered like diamonds in the air around me, reflecting the harsh sunlight in a chaotic dance.
I hardly felt the pain. It was as if my mind had instinctively shielded me from the worst of it, numbing my senses to the physical trauma unfolding around me. It was only when my body struck the unforgiving pavement with a sickening crunch that reality came crashing back with brutal clarity.
As the dust settled and the echoes of the collision faded into the distance, I lay there on the cold pavement, a tangle of limbs and shattered glass. The gray car, vanished into the ether, leaving behind a trail of destruction in its wake.
As the initial shock subsided, a wave of excruciating pain washed over me, engulfing my senses in a relentless onslaught. Every breath felt like fire searing my lungs, every movement sending bolts of agony coursing through my battered body. I struggled to remain conscious, to cling to some semblance of clarity amidst the haze of pain and confusion.
My vision swam in and out of focus, the world around me blurring into a chaotic blur of colors and shapes. I tried to focus, to make sense of my surroundings, but the pain was overwhelming.
Panic threatened to consume me as I struggled to regain control of my body, to push through the agony and find some measure of relief.
But as the seconds stretched into eternity, I knew that this was no ordinary pain. This was a primal, visceral agony that transcended the physical realm.
With every ounce of strength left in my battered body, I fought to hold on, to cling to the fragile thread of hope that still lingered within me.
As my gaze settled on the figure beside me, relief washed over me. It was Travis, his features etched with concern as he watched over me with unwavering attention.
"Alex!"
"Travis," I managed to croak, my voice barely above a whisper. The effort of speaking sent another wave of pain coursing through my body, but I pushed through it, desperate to convey my appreciation to him.
"Oh good! Stay awake ok sweetie? Don't go to sleep at all!" Travis begged.
"It hurts Travis!" I snapped.
"I know sweetie! Hang in there! I'm calling for help!"
"It hurts!"
He didn't respond because he was on the phone, his expression tense with worry as he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from my sweat-drenched forehead. He looked a bit distraught as he spoke frantically to whoever was on the phone.
For a moment, we simply sat there in silence, the only sound the distant hum of traffic and the occasional passerby casting curious concerned glances our way.
"Oh god they got me. I'm dying," I said tiredly.
"You're not dead yet stupid," Travis said urgently through his tears, as if reading my thoughts. "I'm getting you help right now."
"What if I don't make it?"
"You have to so you can achieve your goals, sweetie," Travis begged me.
Travis started to talk more but it all sounded like rushing water. I was too tired to move. I couldn't even lift my limbs.
"Alex! You need to wake up right now!" Travis's voice was urgent with desperation. "Don't go to sleep, you'll die! Get up. Don't go to sleep. C'mon! Get up!"
Every word he spoke pierced through the haze of pain, sparking a desperate struggle within me to stay conscious. But the darkness threatened to engulf me, dragging me deeper into its cold embrace with each passing moment.
"Alex get up!" Travis demanded.
I forced myself up, a wave of dizziness and nausea washed over me, threatening to pull me back into unconsciousness. But I gritted my teeth and fought against it, using every ounce of willpower to stay upright.
"That hurts!"
"I didn't mean get up literally! Come back down sweetie!"
With a heavy groan, I lurched onto the sidewalk, my body protesting with renewed agony. The sight of blood splattered on the street sent a shiver down my spine.
I collapsed to my knees, my muscles trembling with exhaustion and pain, and reached out to grab onto the icy curb for support. Travis and a few bystanders were by my side in an instant, his touch gentle yet urgent as he helped lower me to the ground.
Despite the searing pain coursing through my body, I felt a surge of gratitude towards Travis for his unwavering support and determination to keep me alive. With his help, maybe I had a chance to survive this ordeal after all.
As darkness enveloped me, the distant sound of Travis's anguished sobs echoed in my ears, a haunting melody that faded into the void as my consciousness slipped away. The pain and exhaustion finally overcame me, pulling me into a deep and dreamless slumber.
A harsh brightness of light pierced through my eyelids, forcing me to squint against its intensity. As I attempted to raise my hand to wipe away the sensation on my face, a searing pain shot through my wrist, causing me to recoil with a sharp hiss of pain.
With trembling fingers, I gingerly touched the source of the pain on my wrist which took the bunt of the impact, feeling the tender, swollen skin beneath my fingertips. Memories of the hit and run flooded back, accompanied by the realization that I was fortunate to be alive, albeit battered and bruised.
The booming voice of the paramedic, someone who called themself Carl, echoed in my ears, jarring me from the haze of pain and confusion that clouded my mind. I winced at the loudness of his words, feeling a spike of agony lance through my skull.
"Not too loud," I muttered, my voice hoarse with discomfort. "My head is killing me."
Carl's barrage of questions assaulted my senses, each inquiry driving a new wave of pain through my battered body. Nausea churned in the pit of my stomach, threatening to rise up and overwhelm me. With a groan, I struggled to focus on his words, my thoughts scattered and disjointed.
"Excuse me, sir. What's your name?" A loud voice booms next to me.
I grimaced, "move that light."
"Your name sir?"
"My head is killing me," I argued. "Get that light out of my face!"
"My name is Carl. A 9-1-1 call was placed. Me and my partner are here to help you and your friend. You said that your head is killing you. Do you feel nauseas? What else hurts? What's your name? What's the last thing you remember?"
The panic and urgency surged within me as I realized Travis wasn't next to me. Despite the searing pain and disorientation, I forced my sluggish body into action, straining to scan my surroundings for any sign of my friend.
"Travis?" I called out, my voice barely a whisper amidst the chaos of my thoughts. Each word felt like a monumental effort, as if I were wading through thick sludge just to form the sounds.
My gaze locked onto the ambulance, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched desperately for any sign of Travis movement. But the vehicle remained ominously still, offering no clues as to Travis's whereabouts.
Panic clawed at the edges of my consciousness, threatening to overwhelm me. With a surge of determination, I pushed through the fog of pain and confusion, mustering every ounce of strength to stay conscious and alert. Travis's safety depended on it.
Travis's safety reflected the state of my safety.
As another approaching siren pierced through the haze of pain and confusion, a wave of nausea washed over me, intensifying the agony pulsing through my skull. With each blaring wail, my senses seemed to spiral further into chaos, and I knew I was teetering on the edge of consciousness.
Desperation clawed at me as I struggled to maintain a grip on reality, my mind racing with unanswered questions and unspoken fears. What had happened to Travis? Was he hurt? Was he even still alive?
But the relentless assault of pain and noise proved too much to bear. With a final, futile effort to cling to consciousness, I felt myself slipping into the welcoming embrace of oblivion, the world around me fading to black as unconsciousness claimed me at last.