A Twist of Fate by T. Gephart Read Free Book Online Page A

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