The car screeched to a halt before being forced sideways, tipping and almost rolling onto its side. My body shook and moved with the car hitting the steering wheel and the seat back. My neck bounced back and forth uncontrollably. Glass shattered and cut my skin and I closed my eyes, wishing to be safe and sound at the hotel we had planned to stay at for our honeymoon. It all happened so fast yet the crash lasted so long.
Fear crept into my heart as the car finally slowed to a stop and my muddled thoughts reminded me that Josie was in the car too. I tried to call out to her but my voice was scratchy, most likely a result of the screaming I had probably been doing. I had yelled for help so many times. My seatbelt was restraining me, I was unable to move, and my neck hurt so badly from the whiplash that I couldn't check to see if Jo was okay.
Then I heard her breath, barely. Her breaths were labored and weak. I could tell she was having trouble and the moans that came out of her mouth sounded painful and made my heartache for her. I reached my hand over to her, lightly hitting her chest. Blood soaked my hand as I pulled it back. Jo isn't okay.
It finally kicked in, the adrenaline rush that seemed to accompany me at every call I went to. I've been an EMT for over 4 years and no call or patient has ever scared me as much as Jo. I ripped at the seat belt while slamming my fingers down on the release button, finally getting it to click out. My voice was back and I started to talk to Jo as I reached into the backseat for the trauma bag I keep back there, as an EMT my job is never over. She tried to move a little causing her groaning to continue.
"Jo. I need you to keep still, but open your eyes if you can." She wasn't opening them, she wasn't responding with anything other than the painful groans. "Jo." Her name was a near whisper falling from my lips as everything I have ever been taught on how to save her life leaves my head, my mind going blank. Tears slip out of my eyes and my heads starts to pound. I hear the faint sound of sirens, kicking me back into work mode, remembering what I need to do.
Instantly my hands went to her skin, two of my fingers pressed into her neck and two pressed into her wrist. I was feeling for a heartbeat and my heart almost stopped until I finally felt it. It's beat was weak; irregular. Her breathing was still shallow and labored and I grabbed my stethoscope, about to listen when my jumbled thoughts reminded me to check the bleeding. I quickly reached for her shirt, cutting it in two to find large bruises along her ribs and a large laceration. The blood was coming from the deep laceration most likely cause by the glass of the window on her side. I quickly covered it with gauze, holding pressure while wrestling with the stethoscope to put the earpieces in. I had reason to believe the bruises could be because her ribs are broken which makes me nervous for her. Her ribs could have easily caused a pneumothorax and punctured her lungs.
The sirens were closer now, making my head hurt worse than before. But I still listened to the breaths in her lungs, or trying to. I could only hear them in her left lung; her right lung was mostly silent. The ribs did most likely puncture her lung, the reason for the pain she was feeling, and she probably felt as though she couldn't breath.
"The ambulance is almost here Jo. I did everything I can right now. They'll be able to help you more. I promise you, you will be okay." You're never supposed to promise patients anything. That's one of the first things you learn, after scene safety, but I couldn't let her lose hope. She has lost hope enough in her life and she is such a hard person to pull out of that. I've done it once before.
"Grayson." I don't know that I've ever been happier to hear my name in my live.
"What baby?" I leaned closer, watching her eyes as they tried to open, my own eyes gazing down at her lips as they tried to form words. "It's alright if you can't speak. Don't try too hard."
Her words came out breathy and hoarse, she was anxious but calmer than I would have imagined. "Kiss me."
How could I not grant her that wish? Our lips met and saltiness took over my mouth, she was crying. Her lips stopped moving and I pulled my face back just a little bit. "They're almost here, hold on." While still holding pressure on her wound, I felt for a pulse again. It was slightly stronger but still worried me.
As the ambulance pulled up the sirens only got louder and my free hand came up to my forehead, trying to ease the pain in my head. When I pulled my hand away bright red blood covered my palm.
The next couple of minutes were a blur. "I'm fine. Do not touch me. Help her first." They helped Jo out of the car, asking me questions that I had to think about. "She has B Positive blood. I think her ribs punctured her right lung. I'm an EMT, let me help her too." I tried to help them place the pads on her chest, but one of the EMTs pulled me aside.
"We have her. We will do everything we can." The young woman looked up at my face, almost noticing for the first time that I had blood dripping from my face. "Let me help you while my partner helps her."
I politely declined her help and stepped into the back of the ambulance with Jo, watching the other EMT do his job. I grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently, thinking of all the ways I could have avoided this. "I want to help." He could use another set of hands. "Let me help please."
"I have this under control. I am doing everything I can until we get to the hospital."
"Are you going to bag her? She needs more oxygen."
"Her oxygen stats are just fine, the nasal cannula should keep it at a regular level." His voice was so calm, I have to trust he knows what he is doing. But I don't, this is my wife he is working on.
"Are you going to__" The glare I got from the EMT made me shut up for now. My hands went up in surrender before grabbing Jo's hand again.
I allowed to sounds of the sirens and the bumps of the ambulance relax me. I need to trust that she is in good hands. My lips find her hand, kissing each of her knuckles before I felt the ambulance stop at the hospital.
***
Finally!!
Enjoy;)
-Charlie❤️
YOU ARE READING
The Newlyweds; Saving Us
Romance*Warning* This will be cheesy at times;) Grayson and Josie, the most recent Newlyweds in town, are carefree and in love. Excited about their honeymoon, they pay little attention to the roads on the way to the airport, causing an accident in which bo...
