JiMina Collection

From Within The Rubble ~ Part 5

                Mina could barely see through the blurry mass of tears that clouded her eyes. All she knew was that Jimin didn't make it out. Unfamiliar hands pulled her away from the wreckage, trying to guide her towards the safety of an ambulance. Yet, all she wanted to do was run back for him. Pull him out. Do something. The crew was forced to simply hold her back as she struggled and squirmed, refraining her from returning to the pile of rubble in the midst of the seasonal blizzard. Mina was always the quiet one, never using her soft voice unless she needed to. But now, she screamed and sobbed his name at the top of her lungs. Hoping. Yearning. Waiting desperately for an answer. But none was to be heard. 

               She collapsed, her knees hitting the snow-covered ground hard. Someone wrapped a blanket around her as she sobbed. People were frantically trying to dig him out, working as fast as they possibly could. But for everyone, especially her, it wasn't fast enough. Mina refused to leave, not without Jimin by her side. She needed to know he was okay. Or at the very least, alive. The thought scared her beyond anything. Fresh, hot ever-flowing tears continued to stream down Mina's cheeks, so frequent and persistent that it withstood the harsh winter chill. Pain from her own injuries wracked her body as her hair was whipped around by the unforgiving wind and snow.

"J-Jimin!" Mina continued to scream the same name over and over as she coughed and struggled. The cold air stung her throat and chest with every sob. "Please...No, no...n-no..!" She tried to calm herself down and roughly wiped away her tears. But, it was all she could do to try and stop them, as the deadly anticipation kept the stream flowing. Jimin's jacket remained wrapped around Mina's shoulders and was covered by the additional blanket, yet she still felt as cold as ice. 

           Finally, everyone screamed, instilling themselves with newfound energy as they all caught the first glimpse of his motionless hand. Mina staggered to her feet and tried to run forward, but was once again restrained. In a matter of seconds Jimin was pulled out and placed on a stretcher. Mina broke free and rushed over to his side. People swarmed his unresponsive body as they checked for a pulse. For a few scary seconds, only the harsh billowing of the winter wind could be heard.

"He's alive!" the first responder announced. Mina felt her entire body weaken with relief. However, it didn't last long. "His pulse is weakening! Get him in the ambulance!"

              People used her moment of vulnerability to force her onto a stretcher as well and roll her into the same ambulance. The vehicle sped off through the streets with its sirens wailing and its bright, flashing lights piercing through the harsh snowfall. Every second mattered as they travelled to the nearest hospital. Jimin was hooked up to several machines, monitoring his heart rate as they went. Lying there, Mina could feel the full extent of her painful injuries; both physical and emotional. Despite the protests of the emergency medical service personnel, Mina leant over and tightly grasped Jimin's cold hand in hers. Mina didn't care what the staff thought. She needed comfort. If Jimin was conscious, he would have reassured her that everything was going to be okay, just like he did when they were trapped, cradling her in the darkness. Instead, she found solace in the weak, but steady beeps being emitted from his heart monitor.

                Before she knew it, they were both being wheeled into the ER. Their intertwined hands were forced apart as Jimin was steered into a different room to be met by a team of skilled personnel.  As Mina was being transported down the hall and into her own ward, she heard the faint, solid beep of his cardiac monitor flatlining. Mina's heart raced, contrary to his, as alarms were triggered by Jimin's lack of a heartbeat.

"CPR! Start compressions! NOW!" someone yelled in the distance. "All clear for the first shock!" 

                 Mina was now out of earshot and resorted to pleading with the nurse. "Please, I need to know everything that happens to him!" The nurse nodded sympathetically. Gesturing to the others, she quickly ordered them to take Mina to her room, then turned back in the other direction. Mina's hands shook forcibly with fear. She was changed into a hospital gown and put through an X-Ray machine. As it turns out, she had both a fractured rib and a badly sprained wrist, which explained the level physical pain she was suffering from. Mina was given proper care and a cast for her wrist. Her lungs were also lined with debris and dust from the air that she had been constantly choking on. 

          However, her injuries couldn't even come close enough to compare to what Jimin must have been experiencing. Time seemingly couldn't pass by any faster as Mina waited and waited. She felt as if it had been days since she was trapped within that building. It was ironic that their rescuers caused the ultimate collapse. 

         Jimin had suddenly placed his lips on hers, then pushed her out. With a jolt, Mina realized the true intentions of Jimin's actions. He never meant to get out. He only needed her  to. 

         She was wheeled back to her ward and placed on a bed. All alone, she unwillingly pondered over her situation. This was the most terrified she'd ever been in her life. Oh, Jimin. He couldn't die now. He just couldn't. Not when he purposefully risked his own life to save hers. Not when his touch still lasted on her skin. His kiss still lingered on her lips. He couldn't leave her. Not now. Not ever.

         An eternity later, the same nurse rushed in. "He's alive! They brought him back on the second shock."

         Mina couldn't help it, she burst into tears. 

         Finally, these weren't tears of sadness, but tears of relief. Wonderful, blissful relief. For a short period of time, Mina couldn't feel the pain anymore. Jimin was alive, and that's all she needed. The nurse gave her a soft hug, rubbing her back in small, slow circles. As Mina calmed down, the nurse fixed the sheets and turned off the lights. 

"Sleep, honey. You'll need it." she whispered, then turned and left. "I'll inform you if anything else happens."

                    The covers that were wrapped tightly around her body were certainly warm, but couldn't compare to Jimin's embrace. Nonetheless, Mina let out a tiny smile as she told herself that Jimin would be alright... eventually. He'd be healed enough to share that embrace with her once more. And who knows, maybe she would be able to experience them more often in the future. Although she longed to see him, to be right next to him at this very hour, her body betrayed her. Endless fatigue flooded her battered, little figure, forcing her eyes to flutter shut. Burying herself deep within the sheets, Mina imagined the warm feeling of his embrace and slowly slipped into the inevitable grasp of heavy, much needed slumber.