Just a Little Love Story

Chapter 7

Lilian

Funny how in the middle of a car accident the only thing I could think was that I wasn't going to make it in time to the ice cream place.

The obnoxious sound of police sirens startled me. Red and blue lights blinded my eyes. The airbag had deployed, crushing me against my seat. My chest felt too tight and my arms were limp.

"Miss, are you okay?" a man asked from my open window.

Only then did I realize that it was raining inside the car. I wiggled my fingers. "I think I am."

"Good. We'll get out of your car in a moment." The man's tone was reassuring.

I tried to turn toward the voice, but it didn't feel good. "Okay." I focused on the sight before me, but the light from the police cars was too bright. Sudden and piercing pain to my left temple was the only harbinger of a splitting headache that ensued a moment later, leaving me breathless.

Several people approached my car, and I watched as a flurry of activities took place all around me. More reassuring voices told me that everything was okay. A moment later, I found myself strapped to a stretcher with my neck encased in a collar.

"Are you in pain?" a firefighter asked me as I was transported to the ambulance.

"Yes."

"On a scale from one to ten, where ten is the most excruciating pain you've ever experienced, how much would you think your pain is?" the firefighter asked.

"Six?" I wasn't sure.

"Okay. Six is good." He patted my arm. "We're heading to Overlake, where you'll be taken good care of."

My mind wandered away for a few seconds. I remembered I had visited Overlake only the week before for my annual physical with my family doctor. My stomach heaved.

We were inside the ambulance and it was moving. The firefighter smiled at me, then looked at his colleague. "She's in shock, but responsive."

A pair of gloved hands touched my face. A bright light was shone into my eyes. My car sickness worsened. The nice meal I had just consumed traveled all the way from my stomach to my throat. The firefighter turned me to my side, and I threw up.

"You'll feel better now." He smiled, patting my shoulder.

The ambulance stopped, and I was carted into the ER.

Nurses and a doctor looked at me as I was wheeled along a never-ending hallway. The smiling firefighter was still with me, talking to several people at once, explaining how they had found me, and that I wasn't intoxicated. The doctor ordered X-rays, and the firefighter left. One of the nurses bagged my belongings and asked me if my parents were still my emergency contact. I nodded.

My father arrived soon after I was brought to my room.

"Lilian!" He searched my face and tears formed in his eyes. "What happened?"

The painkiller the nurse had given me wasn't working yet. The headache was killing me. "I got distracted and ran a red." The words exited my mouth, but the act of talking had felt like burning sand.

"How are you?" My father looked at the collar around my throat.

"The doctor said there's nothing broken, but they want to keep me under observation for a few hours." I raised my hand and my father took it in his. "You can go home."

Mom had been contacted as well. She would arrive any moment now, and I didn't want them in the same room. I saw the flicker of pain passing through my father's eyes, but he shook his head.

"I'm staying. I won't leave you alone."