RC.

Ch10 ......... I

Read Slowly. . .

I don't have time to think that Jake is already shouting my name!

Jake:"Tayla!!!"

I stay rooted on the spot, speechless, powerless, face to face with the car that's hurtling towards me at lightning speed.

Jake:"Tayla! Move!!"

Jake's voice lashes the air but I stay stunned, petrified! Like a wild animal startled on a misty country road.

It's crazy all the things you can think about in such a short timeframe.

Ryan's face springs to mind, like a flash ... All the moments we had together and all our rows. As if I was reliving these last few days.

For the last time.

I can no longer feel the rain, time seems to have stopped. The raindrops are falling in slow motion. Everything becomes blurred.

The deafening noise of the car rushing at me, the thunder, Jake's voice... Everything mixes together into incomprehensible hurly-burly.

Suddenly powerful arms wrap themselves around me, pulling me backwards violently!

At the same time, I lose balance and everything tilts dangerously.

I hear Jake absorb the shock as his body hits the ground and mine crashes against his chest.

My whole body topples! I yell with terror as I go with the movement! I feel the car skim past me! It launched at full speed, so close to me, that I feel its passage and the water propelled by its wheels splashes on my skirt.

I stare wild-eyed, at the tarmac.

At the car which is already just small dot in the distance.

My instinct of survival takes over, I breath in deeply as if I'd been holding my breath for hours, and I try to free myself from The arms wrapped around me.

Jake:"It's okay Tayla ... It's okay..."

Jake loosens his grip, his powerful muscles relax letting me go and straightens up. He gently helps me do the same but I stagger, still in shock.

We slowly walk towards the porch. He's supporting me because my legs are weak like two stems of reed swaying in the wind.

I'm drenched, water's dripping down my face. But, my cheeks aren't just wet with rain, they're also wet with tears.

My breath is short, jerky. I'm struggling not to let myself get overwhelmed.

Jake:"Breathe, Tayla. Breathe!"

I focus on his voice, like a top athlete would with his coach.

T:"Jake... I... I..."

Jake:"There ... There ... Easy does it. Breathe... Breathe..."

I just had another brush with death. But I never prepared myself for all this... What ever will become of me...?