Hold Me
The car turned so fast. I only saw the lights flash, then heard the crushing noise of metal bending against me. It was like I wasn’t in my body as I flew almost in slow motion until I hit the fresh, powdery snow.
Before I could raise my head, the car was gone. The pain hit, my vision began to swirl. I tried to raise my head for a second agonizing time. All I could see in the dim yellow street light was the crimson red blood, my blood, melting rivers through the white, contrasting snow.
Slowly the pain took over. My vision blurred more until it was gone.
I forced my reluctant eyes back open to reality. There was no telling how long I had been out.
My body trembled relentlessly. Whether it was from the shock or cold, I have no idea.
I coughed and struggled to raise my hand to my mouth. Though I was seeing two of my hand, I could see the dark, thick blood that lined it.
I couldn’t have long, considering all the blood that surrounded me. The irony was that the only warmth I felt was the blood I had lost, which was slowly killing me.
I remembered that I had my phone on me.
I grimaced as I raised my head looking for it. I could see it through my blurred sight. It was just below my right arm. I tried shifting and reaching, but my probably broken robs and collapsed lungs said otherwise as I fell into a coughing fit. They were quiet, almost breathless coughs, but each one racked my rib cage and sent shooting pains everywhere.
I grunted as they slowed.
Even if I had reached my phone, my fingers were white and frozen. I wouldn’t have been able to use it.
My breaths were getting shorter, quicker. I couldn’t yell for help, no one was coming.
Either I could continue fighting a painful battle that I couldn’t possibly win, or I could give in, and let my failing body win.
In one last attempt I threw myself in my side to reach my phone. My ribs cracked. I screeched in pain and let the tempting darkness swallow me.
“Ma-“
“Oh my g-“
I could faintly hear something, someone. I forced my eyes open once more.
“Maddie, oh my god,” a familiar panicked voice, “look at me, you’re going to be ok, look, look at me, it’s Anna, right here, look at me, please, Maddie.” She grabbed my frozen hand, “please,” her voice broke.
With her free hand she brushed the lose hair from my face.
“It’s going to be ok. I called 911. Just hold on.” Her voice broke again, this time I watched tears stream down her face.
“What the fuck happened? Who did this?”
She saw the open wound bleeding through my jacket and quickly put pressure on it.
I winced.
“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” She cried
“A c-car.” I mumbled through my clenched, shivering jaw.
“Jesus!” She sobbed.
I let my eyes flutter shut.
“No, no, no, Maddie, come on Mads. You gotta look at me, please!”
I coughed up more blood.
“Shit, shit, shit!” She tried to comfort my frigid, trembling, bloodied body, “where the fuck is that ambulance?” She yelled.
I knew I really didn’t have long.
“H-hld me.” I managed.
She looked at me, heartbroken. We both knew that her realeasing the pressure let me go.
After a few seconds, she gently scooped my head and shoulders into her lap. I grunted and winced at the movement.
“Shhh.” She held me tightly, running her hands through my hair, “it’s ok, you’re ok.”
My body began to tremble less. The pain was overtaken by knumbness as I drifted in and out of consciousness.
I opened my eyes one last time to Anna’s voice.
“I hear them, sirens, helps coming.” Her voice faded like I was underwater.
I listened to the sound of her voice as I let myself go for the last time.
