Ref, Play it Back

1. So Stay Away.

SOTC- 'Say Something (A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera cover)' by Pentatonix.

'And I will swallow my pride, You're the one that I love and I'm saying Goodbye'

- - - - - - -

I listen carefully, but I don't hear him utter a single word, or even wince. My already fast-beating heart speeds up even more.

The door to my right is jammed in, so the only way I can get out is by the other door next to Avi.

Dialling 911, I carefully push Avi back from the steering wheel. The airbags seemed to have failed to deploy, and I'm already feeling quite light- headed. Someone receives the call on the other side, but my mouth seems to be frozen shut.

After several tries, the phone goes dead on the other side. I quickly bring my phone to a legible distance from my eyes and text Esther, 'Help. In an acc.' It doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's all I can type right now; besides, Esther would know something's wrong- I usually text quite legible and easily understandable messages.

I push back his seat and wedge myself there and out of the car, every move sending sharp stabs of pain up the right side of my body. I desperately try to push it out of my head, my foremost concern being to get Avi to a hospital as soon as possible.

After painstakingly getting out of the car, I carefully extricate Avi out. This is no cakewalk, considering he's that much heavier and my hands are shaking.

Somehow, I manage to get him out and lay him out on the sidewalk. By now, a lot of people have gathered, but are only taking pictures or videos. I would ask someone to call for help if I could open my mouth, which I somehow still can't.

When no one even makes a move to help us, I prop up Avi and half-drag half-carry him to the nearest hospital, which is at least five blocks away.

By the time I get there, I'm about to drop. The only thing keeping me doggedly moving forward is the desperate need to get Avi to a hospital. The people follow me, but no one lends a hand. Well, that's how some people are nowadays...

I'm feeling extremely dizzy now, and the lights in the hospital seem too bright to me. I manage to drag Avi inside and just reach the reception desk before I black out.

_______

"Ember, can you hear me?"

"AVI!!" I nearly scream, but I can't. Because that's not him. Oh, no, what happened to him?

I try to reply, but my mouth still feels frozen shut. Besides, whoever's asking is holding my hand, so I squeeze their hand once.

"Is that a yes?"

One squeeze.

"Wait, is that a no?"

Two squeezes.

"Okay, which is no?"

Two squeezes.

"And which is yes?"

One squeeze.

"Can you hear me?"

No response.

"So I take it you can hear me?"

One squeeze.

"Can you talk?"

Three squeezes.

"Is that an 'I don't know'?"

One squeeze.

"Can you try to talk now?"

One squeeze. I try to open my mouth now, and I can. But my voice seems missing.