Air Flow

Prolouge: 8 Months Later

Article 5, June 13, 2022. Garrett Hopkins.

Today might have been one of the worst incidents in ATV racing history. 18 year old Garrett Hopkins, son of the 10-time ATV World Tour Stanley Hopkins, has been hospitalized due to a horrifying collision with a concrete barrier on the last lap of qualifying for the National ATV Racing Championship. Paramedics came onto the scene as soon as he lied on the mud. His injuries are severe, and he may not race ever again. Connors Medical Plaza released a statement containing some of the injuries, which included a broken leg, broken arm, and a fractured skull. Doctors say the skull did not receive critical damage, but it is serious.

"He has been in a coma as of today. No other statements have been made and his family only asks for privacy at this time."

Article by Jared Weathers, written June, 13, 2022.
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You know, people say life is full of unexpected things. I think they were right. Me, who just woke up from a coma, reading an article written so long ago. Time flys by when you're not apart of it. Just about 10 minutes ago, my family was beside me, crying tears, jumping for joy that I was alive, or at the very least opening my eyes. The last thing I saw with my eyes was me heading straight into a concrete barrier. The first thing I see: my family beside me, being happy. And that made me happy. At least I'm alive, or at least I still think I am.

I set down the newspaper, and look up at my mother. "This really happened to me?"

"Yeah, it did," she says softly. "I'm sorry abou-"

"You don't have to be sorry Mom. These things happen."

"Well I don't want them to happen." Her voice grows louder. "I don't want to lose you like how I lost your father."

"Mom, I'm not gonna die in an accident. Look at me! I'm totally fine."

"Well thank god for that." She gets up from her chair, and heads for the door. "Look, the doctors are going to come in here in a bit. I'm going to leave for lunch, but I'll make sure to bring you something later, ok?"

"Sounds good Mom." She opens the door, blows me a kiss, and shuts the door. I look at the TV, curious of what's on the news. I grab the controller beside me, and turn on the news.

"Breaking News going on, as 18 year old Garrett Hopkins has been awaken from his 8-month coma."

"WHAT?! 8 MONTHS?!" My heart starts to beat rapidly. I've been in a coma for almost a year... I can't believe it.

"You can't possibly believe that it's been 8 months since his accident, eh Jay?" One of the newscasters say. I turn up the volume of the TV.

"Well, time flys by. He almost flew off without us if you know what I mean. He's ok, at least, but we don't know if he's ever going to return to the ATV racing world. Fractured skull may have done the trick to keep him out."

"I don't know Jay, them Hopkins always come back from a fight. Trust me, he'll be back on his feet in no time. He'll be training his tush off to come back."

"You really think so, Jared?" He looks at him, dead in his eyes, as if he was testing his belief I would come back.

"I do think so, and you cannot change my opinion."

"Haha, well there you have it. Jared Weathers and Jay Peters, here on ESPN, on today's breaking news. We'll update more on his situation as more statements are coming. Meanwhile, we go live from Paris as we interview Erling Haaland and his run to glory from last year's World Cup in Qa-" I turn off the TV, and set down the controller. They really expect me to come back, after what happened? It's farfetched, but maybe I can. I just need to convince my mom I won't die and I'll be set, but I highly doubt she'll let me even touch a bike after what happened.