Dreamer

Oblivion

Anne

The end of the day brought another new experience to Anne. She was too excited to daydream. Or maybe it was that for the first time, her real life offered more thrills than her fantasy life. When the final bell rang, she raced through the halls, careless of who she bumped in her hurry to escape into the brisk, winter day.

Yesterday, she'd made the trek home at a leisurely pace so she knew she had plenty of time to reach the bus stop before Di, but she didn't dare take a chance that yesterday had been a fluke of divine luck. Of course, she knew they were neighbors so even if she missed her arrival, she could go to her house, but there was something so much more lovely about greeting her friend and walking her home.

Later, she would think to herself that things would've gone very differently if she'd slowed down and paid attention- something she'd been begged to do her entire life- the pay attention part, that is. It was more often that she found herself chastised for going about the day too slowly, so consumed by her thoughts that she drifted into motionless states of intense imaginings.

So, perhaps it was the speeding that led to her demise, though others would blame the ice. No one blamed Anne. Accidents happen after all, but Anne had one of those unfortunate memories that replayed moments of shame over and over and over again until she could work herself into such a state that she might as well be truly reliving that moment.

One second, she was nearing her destination, congratulating herself on her decision to hurry as she reached the bus stop just as the lumbering, yellow vehicle squealed to a stop. The next, Di's smiling face was replaced by a slate sky as her feet betrayed her, shooting out so that she went thudding onto her back. Only the position of her backpack saved her skull from cracking against the concrete.

"Anne!" Di screamed, dropping her belongings and bending over to help Anne to her feet.

"No, no, let me lie here," Anne said, throwing her arm over her eyes to blot out the vision of her friend's beautiful concern. How utterly embarrassing this moment was. Why, she was quite certain Jodie would've fallen with such elegance, while she knew in her heart of hearts that she'd gone down like a graceless sack of sugar.

"Anne, don't be silly. It's cold. It's starting to snow. Are you hurt?"

Leaving her eyes covered, she assessed herself for signs of discomfort. There was a strange throbbing in her left ankle, but it didn't really hurt. Most likely she'd wrenched it when she slipped.

"I think I'm fine."

"Let's get you up then."

This time, Anne didn't protest. Taking Di's blue gloved hand, she sat up with a grimace, but as soon as she tried to rise to her feet, she fell back with a whimper. The throbbing intensified, and when she unzipped her boot, she found bruising on her skin.

"Anne, I think you're going to need a doctor."

"No, absolutely not," Anne shrieked. "Mary and Matt will send me away if I cause so much trouble."

Di, looking mystified, shook her head. "These things happen. What's their number? I'll give them a call."

"I- I don't know their numbers yet. We just ordered my phone, and I haven't had a chance to memorize them, and oh, Di- you were going to be my first number. After Matt and Mary, of course... and"

"Calm down," Di said, unable to keep a smile from blooming on her face.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Never, Anne. Never. You're getting all worked up for nothing. Look, I've got an idea. You're not going to love it, but I think it's our best option here. I don't think I can get you home by myself." She pulled out her phone and pressed a contact. After a long pause, she spoke again, "Gavin-"