Ruin Read Free Page A

metal railing.
    “I’ve given you some morphine, but it won’t block out the pain completely. You’re gonna start to feel more once the adrenaline leaves your body. It may not be as comfortable, but we’re going to do our best, okay? If you need any more painkillers, just shout.”
    “Adrenaline … morphine … accident … doing his best …” I repeat to myself, almost as if it will help me process this faster.
    But it doesn’t. It’s all one giant messy bundle in my head.
    And all of it has just begun to unravel.
    I remember swerving on the road … then a flash of light.
    And then came the pain. Intense pain.
    That’s all I remember.
    First, there was the book I read in the library and the failed dance. Then, there was the drive back home … and nothing after that. No matter how many times I try to remember, all I do is draw blanks.
    “Why don’t I remember?” I mutter.
    “You crashed pretty hard,” the guy says, as he wheels me below a big lamp. “You were out of it for some time too.” He talks to a guy behind a small cubicle who then shouts at me through the intercom. “Stay still.”
    Stay still.
    Just like a dog when it’s getting a shot.
    Tied to this bed, my body starts to shiver, and I can no longer stop the tears from running.
    I don’t know why.
    I rarely ever cry, but now, I can’t stop.
    My heart beats in my throat as the guy comes back and drives me out of the room again.
    “What was that?” I ask.
    “We had to take an X-ray.”
    “An X-ray? For what? Of?” I mutter.
    “Your leg.”
    I open my mouth but close it again. I want to ask him a question, but I’m too afraid of the answer. Too afraid of what it might mean.
    My leg.
    If they had to take an X-ray.
    If it hurts as much as it does.
    What happened to it?
    What happened to me?
    I can’t remember anything … except for the pain. Whenever my muscles twitch, I feel it again, and I cry out in pain.
    God, the pain.
    It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
    “Here we are,” he says, driving me into a small cubicle. He pulls off the straps that had me tied down so I can finally rub away the itch on my arm.
    He clears his throat. “The doctor will be right with you. Do you need me to do anything for you? Do you need extra painkillers?”
    “Can I get my phone? I wanna call my parents.”
    His face turns bleak as he says, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know where it is. Maybe the firefighters still have your bag. They’ll probably drop it off at the front desk if they found it. I can check later.”
    “Firemen …” Oh, my God. I look at him, biting my lip. “Is it that bad?”
    He nods and rubs his lips. “But the nurse has already called your parents, so they’re on their way here.”
    “Oh … okay. Right.” I nod, the words not really registering.
    I try to remember, I really do.
    But how am I supposed to remember anything when I just found out I was in a potentially life-threatening accident? And I don’t know what happened to my leg?
    I take a quick look only to regret it instantly.
    A splint is attached, and my leg is completely wrapped up to keep it locked in place. I can’t even move it.
    And above all … I just realized I have to pee.
    God, can this be any worse timing?
    I sigh and shake my head.
    “So you all right?” the guy says.
    “No …” I laugh it off as a joke, but it isn’t funny.
    “Well, if you need anything, just call out. There’s a nurse around the corner.” He holds out his hand. “Good luck.”
    “Thanks.” We shake hands, and he leaves.
    He must be a paramedic. One of the guys who scraped me off the ground.
    I wonder what they thought when they saw me. How much work it took them to save me. If he’s the one who saved me.
    I never even asked for his name.
    I look at my hands and see the bruises on my skin, wondering where they were when I hit that wall he was talking about. I don’t remember a thing.
    My mind feels jumbled, completely shaken up.
    I must’ve had a concussion or