My jaw dropped, my eyes widened, and my heart pounded. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing; I would let myself believe it. The car in front of me swerved towards the fence, trying its hardest to avoid the wreckage while leaving me with a perfect view of it. There was my best friend’s Subaru, crushed against the other truck like an empty tin can. My foot slammed on the brakes. I was rushing out the door before I could even put my car in park. Sweat was dripping off my chin, mixed in with salty tears streaming down my face. My mind kept telling me to stop running towards the car, to let the police handle it. My heart wouldn’t let me, thought, as I continued to pick up speed. The seconds got slower each time I got closer; it felt like forever before I reached them.
The first thing I saw was her face. The smile that could light a whole room was gone, a breathless set of parched lips remained. The glittering eyes now closed tightly. The hands that once greeted, waved, and held others now lay clenched, splattered red. I clenched them tightly. The more paramedics yelled at me to move out of the way, the firmer I held on. Finally they gave in and let me into the ambulance. Unable to pry myself away from her, I sat with my hand intertwined with hers. There I waited, for what seemed like ages, to arrive at the emergency room.
As soon as the stretcher was lowered, the rest became a blur. A wave of nurses rushed past me. The shouting of doctors and beeping of machines became a faint echo in my mind, muffled behind all the questions and fears that I was drowning in. What if she couldn’t walk again? What if she wouldn’t remember me, or anyone? What if she didn’t even make it? My body shuddered at the thought.
I pictured the first day we met, awkward first hellos followed by the years of laughter, smiles, and joy. She had always been right by my side, ready to dive into anything I was going through. I had to do the same for her now, as I pushed myself out of the waiting chair. I began inching my way closer to the door of the emergency room, gaining the courage to see what was on the other side.
I was almost to it when I heard a shriek coming from behind me. I turned around to see the dark and weakened eyes of her mother staring back. It was as if she wasn’t looking at me, but rather looking through me, wandering and desperate for answers. I could see it in her eyes; she didn’t want to ask questions. She couldn’t bear to hear the response. I looked back with a blank gaze and a meek smile, as if to say I knew how she felt.
I was almost to it when I heard a shriek coming from behind me. I turned around to see the dark and weakened eyes of her mother staring back. It was as if she wasn’t looking at me, but rather looking through me, wandering and desperate for answers. I could see it in her eyes; she didn’t want to ask questions. She couldn’t bear to hear the response. I looked back with a blank gaze and a meek smile, as if to say I knew how she felt.
Her walls then broke down as she melted to the floor, with her hands guarding her face as the tears began to pick up speed, leaving behind a black path of mascara as they fell. She attempted to wipe them away but the lines grew darker each time she tried. I slowly sat down next to her. Not a single word was spoken, but the warm embrace was enough to keep us stable as we both waited.
“Mrs. Montgomery.
Her eyes shot up. The doctor stood over her, his shadow covering her face. His smile was forced on, plastered lips against his pearly white teeth. I could see right through them thought, as I looked into his truthful eyes. They were weakened but there was still some light shining through. It was as if to say there was still hope left. Something was still alive, even within his unforgiving stare. I perked up at the thought, and so did she.
Hand in hand, we rose back from the ground. We followed as he led us toward the room. He looked back as his hand reached the handle, questioning whether or not we were ready. Without hesitating, she pushed past him and shoved the door open with one quick swoop of her hand.
On the other side of the door, there sat the bed. Attached to it wasn’t my best friend though. Beeping after each heart beat and taking in mechanical breaths as she did, it had taken over her. It was alive.