Quentin's Way

Chapter 21

            When I regained consciousness, I first heard the sound of a woman screaming. I then heard Demi's voice but I couldn't understand what he was saying because of a loud ringing noise in my ear combined with the woman's screams. The side of my head was hurting so I put my hand on it and realized I was bleeding. My door was banged in and the window was shattered. It took me a little while to realize my truck was pinned between the car that had T-boned me—a red Ford Mustang—and a utility pole. I finally pulled myself together and managed to get out of my seatbelt.

            "Quentin, be careful," Demi said to me. "Baby, you're bleeding."

            "I know," I said as I put my hand back up to the side of my head. "We gotta get out of here, Demi. Are you hurt?"

            "No. I'm fine."

            "Good."

            "I didn't even see that car. Did they run the light?"

            "Yeah, they had to have run the red light and hit us. It happened so fast and..." I looked forward and noticed someone from the other car had been thrown out and was dead on the hood of my car. I knew he was dead because his head was split open and you can see some of his brain.

            Demi noticed the look on my face and asked, "What is it, Quentin?" He looked forward and saw the dead body. "Oh my God!"

            "Baby, don't panic."

            "He's dead!"

            "Demi, look at me. Look at me!" He looked at me and I assured him, "It's gonna be okay, baby. Just don't look at him. Keep looking at me. Now, do you think you can climb to the back?"

            Tears rolled down his cheeks as he replied, "Yeah, I think I can."

            "Okay, climb to the back and see if you can get one of the back doors open."

            "Can you move from your seat?"

            "Don't worry about me, baby. Just find a way out of here. I think I smell gas. I don't want you to get hurt."

            "But Quentin..."

            "Go now, Demi!"

            He looked at me for a little while and then quickly climbed over the center console to the back of my Tahoe. He was able to get the rear passenger side door open. He turned back to me and said, "Come on."

            "It's gonna take me a minute. My left side hurts too much when I move. Go ahead and get out and I'll be out in a minute."

            "No, I am not getting out of this truck without you."

            "Demi, just go!"

            "No! I'm not leaving you damnit! Not like this."

            "I don't know if I can climb over the seat like you did. My side is killin' me, baby."

            He was silent for a second and then he suggested, "If you recline your seat and slide up, I can help you get back here so we can get out. Just try not to move your neck too much. You could have a neck injury that you don't know about."

            "Demi, you're not gonna be able to pull me like that. I'm more than twice your size."

            "We're going to have to try it, Quentin. I'm not leaving you in this damn truck!"