Autumn Leaves

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

I got home by 1 in the morning and I was dead tired that I didn't have the energy to cry and feel about what Trevor and I decided to be. Though I thought I needed a well-deserved rest, I didn't have the power to stop time or to go to work in the afternoon. Apparently, I slept through my alarm and realized I was already almost an hour late.

I hurried as I walked down the busy streets of the city, occasionally bumping into people who were equally in a rush to go to work. Everything was matched with honks from the cars that were stuck in traffic which I was quite thankful for waking me up from my drowsiness.

It wasn't too sunny today but it also seemed like it wouldn't rain anytime later. The air was colder here than in California which brought me back to the past few days. I tried to shake it out of my head quickly as soon as I realized it wouldn't be good for me.

I went to the edge of the sidewalk to hail a cab since using the other public transportations would cost me more time to get to the office; though it took me a bit of time before I could grab one.

I was half-way to my destination when the cab started to slow down, finally becoming one of the cursed who will suffer the traffic. The driver of the cab had told me that the reason behind it was a car accident. It was a great timing when Diane's name appeared on my phone screen. I had no idea what she needed because we only had our conversation last night.

"Hello, Diane, " I answered. "I'm sorry. I'm just stuck in traffic. I'll-"

"Paige, I need your help." I heard her basically half screaming and half groaning on the other line. "Please," another groan, "Call help."

I panicked and paid the driver without waiting for the change and immediately hopped out of the car.

I started through the streets and brisk-walked as fast as I could. "Why? Where are you?"

"I got in an accident," she cried. "Please come quickly."

I ended the call and sped up towards to what I think it seemed to be the root of the traffic. I pushed people away hastily, automatically saying sorry and dialing 911 at the same time.

When I reached the end of the street, there was a dark blue sedan crumpled into a light post and another car behind it in the middle of the road. Ambulances had already come and in one stretcher was Diane, clutching her sides. Her head was dripping with a little bit of blood and her lip was a little bruised and bleeding just like the other parts of her body.

I screamed her name and ran towards the ambulance where she was being settled in. "Diane! Diane - "

One rescuer put a hand in front of me. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he said. "I can't let you in - "

"Please, just fucking let her in!" Diane exclaimed surprisingly despite her limp body.

The rescuer impaitiently shrugged and quickly pushed Diane and the stretcher further inside the van. He let me hop inside before them and before taking off to the hospital.

"I know this is stupid to ask but what happened?" I calmly asked though I was still in a state of panic.

"Someone hit my car to the light post," she answered, breathing hard as the other rescuer did first aid on her.

I called Sara's phone while the rescuers fumbled onto Diane as they performed their works of magic. "Hello?" I said as she picked up.

"Hey Paige! Aren't you still going to work today and do you know where Diane is?" Sara answered with a delighted tone.

"Uh," I started off, nervous. "I'm with her right now. It's an emergency." I said.

"What? What happened?" Her voice rose.