Fat Girl ✔️

Part Two: My pain

When I was in kindergarten, I got scared at nap-time.

The teachers would close the curtains and turn off the lights... and the darkness? It scared me.

I would lie awake after everyone was fast asleep, my eyes clenched shut and my hands over my ears. I would toss and turn, and every shadow became a hairy, gnarly beast. My teacher,  would help to calm me down. Deep breaths, she said. In, and out. In, and out.

Now, I lay, pressed under the heavy metal of my car, my eyes squeezed shut. I was afraid if I opened them I wouldn't like what I was going to see. I stared into the dark emptiness of the back of my eyelids, praying it would all just go away. I took a deep breath. In and out. In, and out. Then, slowly, I opened my eyes to reveal my surroundings.

I stared up at the bright blue sky, blinding my eyes. Small, white clouds were scattered across the atmosphere. For a moment, before my eyes adjusted to the light, I thought I was staring out at the ocean. I thought I made it to the beach, with the soft blue waves.

But no. This blue was the blue that you might see when you look up at the sunny sky. I was outside. Alone, and afraid.

With great difficulty, I lifted my head up from the dirt ground where I lay, and took a look down.

That was a terrible mistake.

All I could see was blood. I was so numb I felt no pain, just a distant itching on my legs. I had no idea where the blood was coming from, but just from one look around I could tell it was mine.

My car lay, crushed and twisted, on top of my legs, pinning me to the ground. I felt nothing but a bit uncomfortable, but the amount of blood made me nauseous.

I was injured, dehydrated, tired, and half dead.

Shaking with fear, I dared another look at my legs. I couldn't even tell if I had legs anymore. They were either covered by the car or not there at all. I was hoping it wasn't the latter.

"Help!" I called out, my voice thin and hoarse. I barely made a noise. "Please, someone Help!" I said again, much louder this time. My voice echoed into the empty distance.

Was this it? Was it over? I couldn't remember what stupid things I had been so worried about before. They all faded as I felt the uncomfortable weight on the lower half of my body. All I could think about was the pain, and... Dad.

Maybe I would get to see him again. Finally. 

I lay my head back down on the hard ground and stared at the bright blue sky, in all it's irony it was sunny and warm on my skin. I looked straight into the sun, not caring if it burned my eyes and blinded me because I was accepting what was coming. There was no getting out of the situation I was in. I was going to die. I closed my eyes and accepted my fate. I closed my eyes and waited for Dad to come get me.

Only, dying takes a lot of time when you're just bleeding to death. In fact, it takes hours. So I lay there for hours. Or maybe it was minutes, how would I know? I lay there and stared at the sky, and then I lay there and closed my eyes. I tried to sleep but it was too painful. I tried to move but it was too difficult.

I waited to bleed out, pushing away thoughts other than my breath. I tried to focus on nothing as I waited to die.

And then I heard the rumble of a car engine.

Maybe dying wasn't my fate after all.

***

"She needs a doctor!"

"I took medical classes for twelve years. She doesn't need no doctor. Besides, I already stitched her legs up. Even if she doesn't heal, at least we know she'll survive."

"Patrick, honey, will you stop being stupid and get her to a doctor ? Are you really going to risk this girls life for your pride?"

"Shhh. She's waking up."

Everything hurt. The numbness from before was gone, and as I opened my eyes to a dark room, with only one small lamp illuminating it, I winced in pain. 

As kind looking older woman with curly short hair and tan skin gazed down at me hopefully. An older man with a beard stood next to her. The woman spoke up.

"Well, Good Morning. I'm glad you're awake. I'm Martha and this is my husband Patrick. We were driving to the grocery store and we saw you laying there on the road. I thought we should call 911, but you see, my husband took some classes for a while and now he thinks he's some sort of... medical expert. So we took you to our house and Patrick stitched you up. Oh no, don't try to move honey. We may have saved your life, but I don't think you'll be walking for a while." She spoke with a sweet southern accent and smiled at me widely, showing both rows of teeth.

I sat up in the bed anyways. " Thank you...Martha, was it?" She nodded. " I really appreciate your help, but I think I need to get to a telephone and call my mom. She's probably worried sick about me."

Martha bit her lip. "Honey, I don't mean to sound nosy, but when Patrick was stitching you up Ben and I went through the remains of your car. We found your phone, and called your mother. I'm afraid she's on a work trip in New York and she won't be able to come and get you. She brought your little sister... Jackie, with her. Is there anyone else you'd like to call?"

I hesitated. Jackie and my mom had left for her work trip a few days ago, not bothering to ask me if I wanted to come along. My mom was still mad at me about that stupid fat camp, and Jackie..well she was Jackie. I understood everything Martha was saying except who the hell Ben was. Patrick spoke up.

"...Look, we talked to your mother and she told us this week was your, um, Fall Break. Our car only goes so far until it stalls out, so if you'd like to stay the night here before you get picked up you're more than free to."

I squinted, trying to wrap my head around the idea. " Where am I?"

"Oh, you're in Wenley. That's a few towns over from where you live, I believe. we're kind of isolated over here, so it's an hour drive just from here to Rivers. Figured it was best."

"That would be great, thank you. And if you don't mind me asking, who is...Ben?"

Martha grinned. "That would be my son, honey. I think he's about your age. I don't mean to be putting my nose where it don't belong, but your driver's license said you're 17. Ben's a few months shy from 18, so I think you two will get along just fine. It will give you someone to talk to, for sure."

I lay my head back down on the pillow, trying not to focus on the pain and instead on what she was saying. Mom and Jackie were in New York. I couldn't take my car home, and I couldn't call anyone til' morning. So I was staying in the middle of nowhere for the night.

Great.