Chapter 6 – Crumpled Metal
The event was a mess. Multiple changes and a lack of direction were only compounded by the fact that the venue staff had no idea what they were doing. I took a deep breath and I worked through one area at a time fixing the problems. Even those stupid chair covers! By 4am it was perfect and I was running on vapours. I grabbed a can of Coke from the vending machine and strolled out to my car. The rain was heavier now and had made the roads slick and it was difficult the see the lane markings. I knew I was probably impaired from fatigue so I took extra care navigating the streets. There were barely any other cars on the road so I was thankful I didn’t have to contend with asshole drivers.
I felt my eyes blink for a second too long. I knew that I was tired, so when I approached the traffic light and saw it turn amber I eased my foot off the accelerator, eased in the clutch, down shifting before applying a little brake. I had come to a complete and controlled stop by the time the light changed to red.
To my right I heard the screeching of tyres and a horn. A black SUV obviously had not seen that the light was red, hitting its brakes and aquaplaning across three lanes of traffic before slamming side-on into a light pole, narrowly missing my little Honda Civic. Glass shattered from the windscreen and side window, metal crumbled like aluminium foil. The horn of the SUV was still sounding and I think I heard screaming. I was paralysed by shock. I sat for a moment, unable to move, silently thanking whatever higher power had been in charge of my narrow escape. I looked around half expecting to see someone, anyone, come to help, but there was no one. We were alone.
I unhooked my seat belt and opened the car door, the rain pelted down, drenching me within seconds of being outside of my car. I ran over to the SUV which showed no signs of life, hoping that I would be able to offer some kind of assistance. I slipped on the wet road, grabbing the driver’s side handle to stop myself from falling heavily on my ass. Aggghhhhhh. Pain seared me as I realised that I had jarred my shoulder.
“Hello... are you ok?” my voice was barely audible over the rain and the horn. I wrenched at the door and pulled it open to see the driver slumped over the exploded air bag.
“Ugghhhhhhhhhh,” the male driver mumbled incoherently. I leveraged my body into the car slightly so I could see if there was anyone else in the vehicle. I pushed down the airbag and looked over at the side of the car that had taken the brunt of the impact and noticed there was a male passenger who was not moving. Blood stained the window and upholstery. FUCK.
“Ughhhhhhhhh” the driver mumbled again. I reached down into my pocket to grab my mobile phone... Shit, where is it?! FUCK. It must still be in the car. I glanced over at my Civic, the ignition was still running, lights on. I needed to make a decision and I needed to make it fast.
Adrenaline kicked in as I pulled open the back passenger door and climbed into the mangled mass of metal. “Can you hear me?” I reached across from my position in the back seat to gently shake the passenger’s shoulders. No response. By this stage the driver had regained a semblance of alertness and had started screaming. “Mike, Mike...Wake up dude... MIKE...WAKE UP!”
“Hey, it’s ok...calm down... can you move at all?” I asked the driver, who nodded as he awkwardly climbed out of the car. I contorted my body over the seat so that I was now almost sitting in “Mike’s” lap. I placed my ear to his chest. He wasn’t breathing. Shit. “GRAB MY PHONE OUT OF THE CAR AND DIAL 000 TELL THEM WE NEED A MICA AMBULANCE NOW” I shouted to the driver who clung to his car door. “DO IT” I yelled not recognising the voice coming out of my mouth urging the driver into action as he took off into the direction of my car. Using my body as leverage, I pulled Mike out of the car. I knew he might have a spinal injury but I also knew his brain was deprived of oxygen and this was my first priority.
The driver rushed back to Mike and I, talking to the paramedic on my phone. “Help me get him onto his back, he’s not breathing” I commanded. He shoved the phone into his mouth so his hands were free and he helped me lower Mike onto the hard, wet road. Instinctively I started pumping his chest. C’mon Mike... C’mon... I kept pumping as I felt his ribs crack beneath my palms. Mike was probably in his late twenties or early thirties and, if not battered and barely hanging onto life, would have been an attractive man. He looked athletic, not the kind of body that worked out, more like the kind of body who played sport. He had broad shoulders and was around 5’11”. He had ash blond hair which waved and kinked at the back and was now matted with blood. His body, which would have otherwise been strong and agile, lay motionless except for the recoil to my compressions. A small but definite cough came from Mike’s throat so I stopped pumping so I could listen. His breathing was shallow but present so I rolled him onto his side. I scanned the rest of his body and noticed blood was pouring out of his upper thigh. I had nothing to staunch the flow but my own clothing so I pulled off my t-shirt and improvised a tourniquet. My hand pressed down firmly above the wound.
I could hear the sirens getting closer. My hands were covered in blood and I was sitting in the middle of the road in my bra. It felt so surreal. The driver had been pacing beside me. “Are you ok? You hurt?” I questioned without removing my hands from Mike’s leg.
“I don’t know, I think my arm is broken, I don’t know.” He was clearly in shock.
“What’s your name?” I asked him, looking up at him from my uncomfortable position on the ground.
“Jackson” he uttered quietly.
“It’s going to be okay Jackson, they are close” I said, gesturing with my head to the now visible flashing lights.
The paramedics took over, their years of experience and training obvious as they asked me a barrage of questions while tending to Mike. I answered as best I could “No I wasn’t hurt.” - “No I did not know the driver or the passenger.” - “His name is Mike.”- “I don’t know how old he is.” -“His leg is bleeding.”- “I had to perform CPR.”- “No I can’t remember how long he was not breathing for.”
Everything seemed to moving in slow motion. They hooked Mike up to different machines, finally satisfied that he was stable enough to move onto a stretcher. His head was strapped onto a board and an oxygen mask covered most of his face. Jackson was being treated for a broken arm and suspected broken ribs by another paramedic.
“Ma’am, we have got to move him to the Alfred hospital, are you able to follow us in your car to assist with any queries the hospital may have?” I nodded my head and turned to face my car. They had already loaded both Mike and Jackson into the ambulance when I reached my driver’s side door. I looked at my blood stained hands and chest. My white cotton bra had now become a rusty brown colour. I pulled my jacket from my back seat and zipped it up. I slumped back into my seat and drove. As if on autopilot, my car found its way to the emergency department door of the Alfred hospital.
~~~~~~
The police had arrived at the hospital and had wanted my statement, so I gave it to them as best I could. I didn’t really know anything. I asked if Jackson and Mike were ok but no one seemed to have any answers. Someone asked me if it was ok to take a blood screening for HIV and Hepatitis as I had been exposed to someone else’s blood. I nodded silently, not really understanding what they were saying.
“Lexi is it?” a tall blonde nurse asked. I read her name badge: GRACE. “I understand you have been asking about the two gentlemen that were involved in the collision. Unfortunately we can’t divulge any personal information about their condition, except to their next of kin. I can tell you though that what you did was an amazing thing; you saved that young man’s life - without a doubt” She took a breath before continuing “Jackson, the driver, would like to see you if you are willing to speak with him?”
“Of course I’ll talk to him.” I replied and I followed her into a curtained off area.
“Hi.” Jackson croaked, his voice horse. I studied him carefully. He was a little shorter than Mike but looked roughly the same age. He too looked athletic but seemed like he took a bit more care in his appearance. He had definitely seen the inside of a gym. His hair was so closely cropped to his head that it appeared he had no hair at all. His vibe was strangely sexy and yet innocent at the same time. His clear, light grey eyes were clouded with fear and turmoil.
“Hi, I’m Lexi... I don’t think we’ve properly met” I touched his hand gently not entirely sure what the correct procedure was for our re-introduction but feeling the need to comfort him.
“Lexi, what you did... you saved Mike’s life...” His voice trailed off, his eyes filling with emotion.
“Hey, it’s ok...” I said a little uncomfortably “Anyone would have done it. You’re both ok and that’s the main thing” He eyed me for a second as if to consider whether to offer any more information.
“Can I use your phone again... there is a call I need to make” I didn’t even pause before offering it.
“Of course, here it is” I handed him my iPhone and watched him dial. “Would you like me to step outside to give you a minute?” I asked.
“No! Please stay” he pleaded “I just don’t want to be alone right now” he said, fear evident in his eyes. Who the hell was he going to call and why were they making him this nervous? He held the phone to his ear and waited.
“Hey it’s Jackson.” He paused to listen to the person on the other end. “I need to talk to James.” I could hear the incredulity in the raised voice answering him, but not the words. “Yes, I know what time it is and that he has a show tonight but this is important so you are going to have to wake him up.” Jackson eyed me as I started to piece together his riddle. “James, I’m sorry man, I really am... it’s Mike, we were in an accident. You need to get to the hospital man...no he’s alive...he’s in surgery now. I’m ok a bit banged up but nothing compared to Mike... You need to get here man... He stopped breathing but this girl saved his life... The Alfred... ok... see you soon.” He disconnected the call and handed me the phone silently.
“Jackson, who were you talking to?” I asked cautiously. Jackson faced me and his eyes spelt out what his mouth was saying.
“James Bowden, Mike’s his baby brother.”