Sapphic Voices General Fiction

Accidental Meeting

I took my hand off the steering wheel and reached into the bag on the passenger seat beside me, fingers groping for the small packet of lozenges to ease the dryness in my throat. The searching fingers brushed against the sharp edge of a ticket - an airline ticket and abruptly pulled away. ‘Don’t think of it.’ I told myself. ‘Not again. Not now.’ The empty fingers retreated, the lozenges forgotten as my thoughts involuntarily turned yet again to the decision that had been made and now maybe unmade.

I’d made the decision to go weeks ago. My four week’s notice had been reluctantly accepted and I’d arranged for a Real Estate company to rent out my house [‘No point in burning my bridges’ - I’d thought even then!] Paul had everything arranged for my arrival, had even issued invitations to friends for my ‘welcome’ party that was to double as our surprise engagement party. My mind veered away from the word!

I had no doubts that I loved Paul - but as a lover, or a brother? I couldn’t be sure. We’d been best mates as youngsters and had squabbled and fought as teenagers. He’d been the first boy to kiss me and here I was now, at 31 years old, contemplating marriage for the first time - with Paul.

His first marriage had ended acrimoniously some three years before and I knew he desperately missed his daughter. Was his proposal to me just a call for help from a lonely man? Was my acceptance a reply from a woman desperate to find love for the first time in her life? It worried me that I’d been truly happy for him when he’d met, then married Isabella. Where were the feelings of jealousy I should have had, if my love for him now was as a lover?

I shook my head, trying to shut out the thoughts of how my change of mind would hurt Paul. I’d accepted the dinner party invitation tonight to try to forget and it had worked but now, on the long, lonely drive home, the questions asked themselves again.

My hand automatically moved to turn on the wipers as the first fat drops of rain splattered on the windscreen. “That’s all I need!” I muttered as the drops turned to a torrent. I rounded a bend in the road and saw, in the distance, the flickering blue lights of an emergency vehicle coming my way. As I braked slightly to negotiate another slight curve in the road, without warning, the outline of a darkened car filled my vision as it careered towards me in an uncontrolled slide. I wrenched the wheel to the left, desperately trying to get out of the path of the now spinning vehicle. I heard the sound of squealing brakes, felt the rubber slide on the wet tarmac and knew that I couldn’t avoid the inevitable collision.

My eyes shut tight at the last moment and my arm came up in a vain attempt to shield my face from the impact to the driver’s door. I leaned inwards towards the centre of the car, as far away as possible from the tonne of metal that targeted me. I whimpered.

I didn’t see it but I felt the impact and heard the screaming sound of metal tearing, ripping. My world was spinning as we tumbled in a macabre dance over and over again. I could hear the human screams, knowing they were my own, could feel the moment when the dance ended abruptly, could hear the screams stop as all breath, all life-giving air was exploded from my body. I felt the pressure deep in my chest as the silence erupted around me. I tried to lift my head from my left shoulder but couldn’t. I knew I was on my side, that the car was on its side…….and that I couldn’t breathe!

I tried to suck in air but there was no room left inside for it. The pain started - Oh God, the pain! My head was spinning and the darkness around me started to fade as the heaviness, the thickness of ‘grey’ took over. ‘I’m going to die!’ I thought in surprise. The feel of the heavy raindrops on my face softened to silk and the sound of sirens that had become deafening faded into silence.

I became aware once more. Not slowly, the way the books would have it. Instantly I was aware. I heard a dog barking in the distance, a mouth was covering my own - not in a gentle kiss but with an urgency. I felt the puff of air as it was forced into me.

“She’s coming round, Ben! Come on! Push again. One, two three….push!” I felt a slight release of the deadly pressure from my chest and the gift of air was released again in a groan. “OK, love. An ambulance is on its way.” The same soothing voice. “Now don’t try to talk.” The voice stopped my words. “I’m Senior Constable Coleman - Nic to you. This here is Constable Ben Elliott. We’re trying to move the seat back a bit. You seem to have got yourself stuck between it and the steering wheel. Come on Ben, one more time.”

I felt the seat move imperceptibly and the weight of pain ease slightly off my chest. My comforter patted my shoulder, gently. “It won’t be long love. Here, you’re getting soaked!” I was aware of a warm jacket being placed around my right shoulder and looked up to see the sky where the driver’s door should have been. There seemed to be much movement around the car and spotlights illuminated the area.

“What happened?” My voice was a whisper.

“Stolen car. We were following well behind them, trying not to push them to higher speeds. They lost control of the car and spun it on the wet road.”

“Are they all right?” I saw the slight grimace before the smile returned. “Yes, they’re fine. Lucky buggers! Even tried to make a run for it. They’re in the paddy wagon now, waiting to be ferried to the lock-up.”

I tried awkwardly to lift my head from my left shoulder and felt a hand slip under the side of it, supporting it. I looked up into concerned, clear eyes and wondered inconsequentially what colour they were. The mouth curved into a reassuring smile when the officer realised I was watching.

‘Hold me!’ I wanted to beg, ‘Hold me and take away the pain and fear.’ The face moved closer, a tentative look, a hint of recognition from a stranger.

“If I could take your pain away I promise I would. Be brave. We’ll take care of you.” I nodded slightly against the strong hand, before my gaze moved to the wet blue shirt plastered against the skin, highlighting the contours of the body. Nic Coleman followed my glance and laughed with just a hint of embarrassment. My eyes focused on a patch of shirt stained a different colour. “Blood?” I whispered.

“It’s OK.” The voice was still calm, soothing. “It’s mine, not yours. I jagged my hand when we pulled the remains of the door off. Ripped open like a sardine can, it was.” The mouth turned up again and I watched, fascinated, the pain taking a back seat.

“What’s your name?”

“Jennifer.” I breathed, “Jen to my friends.”

“OK Jen.” That smile again. “What sort of movement have you got down below? Feet, toes etc?” The question was casual but I knew the implications. I tried to laugh in relief as both legs moved within the confined area but winced with the pain in my chest. My breathing needed to be shallow against the press of the steering wheel. I looked up, fear obvious in my eyes. There were no false promises forthcoming. “We’ll just have to wait and see. Be brave, Jen.”

I heard the sound of different sirens and red flashing lights mingled with blue. “Listen, Jen.” Nic continued, “We’ve got the fire department here as well as the ambulance. They’re probably going to do some cutting around you.” The fear must have shown once more. “No, no! It won’t hurt you. It’ll relieve the pressure from your chest.” The stroking fingers comforted, the strong well-defined face soothed my fears. I instinctively knew I could trust that face.

Voices intruded on our intimacy, a face appeared over Nic’s shoulder, appraising the situation. A second figure, obviously an ambulance man, asked Nic to allow him access. Questions were asked, injections given, much movement around the car but I was looking for Nic, needing to find Nic. The movements became a blur and suddenly I was free of the wreckage, on a trolley, being wheeled into the ambulance. I tried to focus my mind. There was something I needed: No, someone that I needed.

“Nic!” I tried to shout but it came out as a whisper. A face appeared above me, a familiar face. “Stay with me.” I pleaded. “Please come with me.” Nic turned and spoke to the figure behind, then turned back to me. A gentle hand brushed a lock of wet hair from my brow and I saw again the look of recognition.

“Yes Jen, I’ll come with you.”

If you have enjoyed F.J. Davey's "Accidental Meeting", then please be certain to e-mail her at  francis7[at]bigpond.net.au  and thank her for posting this Story.

Click here for a list of all of F.J. Davey's Stories and Poetry at  Sapphic Voices Authoresses.