Page 85 of Together

“Baby! Ash! What the fuck happened? Are you okay? Talk to me! Ashley!”

He’s shouting to me and I want to call out to him to let him know that I’m here and I’m okay, but the truth of the matter is, I don’t know if I’m okay. I cradle my stomach and look around, barely able to see anything through the splintered windshield.

“I’m…” I trail off, not able to say anything more. It feels like I’m being suffocated and I realize it’s because I’m still strapped in with my seat belt and the airbags all around me deployed.

Raising a hand, I try to unlatch my seat belt but I can’t seem to find the button to release it. I don’t hear Nik’s voice anymore and that makes me sad. I really need to hear him tell me that I’ll be okay and that the baby will be okay. I just need him.

Outside of my car, I hear commotion all around me. People shouting at me, trying to get my attention and letting me know they’ve called an ambulance. I loll my head to the right and see the vehicle that hit me. Their front end is scrunched up like an accordion and I can see that their airbags deployed as well.

I turn to the left again, which is easier for me because then I can rest my head against my window and see people all around me. Their phones to their ears, hands on their heads. I feel something sticky on my left temple and wince when I feel a sharp tug against my skin when I shift it against the window.

Everything I do seems to be in slow motion and when I look at the window beside me, all I see is shattered glass and bright red smeared all over.

I guess that explains the stickiness. My head must be bleeding.

I wish I had the energy to talk out loud so I could reassure the baby that he and I are going to be just fine. I might be a little banged up, but I’ll survive as long as he’s healthy.

“Ma’am, are you okay? Can you hear me?” a guy shouts, his phone pressed to his ear. “It’s only her in there. Oh shit… I think… she’s pregnant. Fuck. Hurry up. Where’s the damn ambulance?!” he yells into the phone. “Okay okay. Yeah. I’ll stay on. Ma’am. Can you hear me? Talk to me, okay? I saw the whole thing and that was some crazy shit. Crap, I shouldn’t say that. I’m sorry, I’m not good in these situations. I get all tongue-tied and nervous. Listen, I know you’re hurting and you’re probably scared out of your damn mind and that’s totally understandable because that was fucking wild, but you’re going to be fine. The ambulance should be here in two minutes.”

I stare into his bright blue eyes, full of kindness and fear and I so wish that I could respond. I open my mouth but nothing comes out. Through the broken window, he reaches in and grabs my outstretched hand. I don’t even remember stretching it toward him.

“My name’s Max. I won’t leave your side until they kick me out of here, okay? That’s a promise. Just stay awake. I think that’s something they say, right? Did you hit your head? It looks like it. Then you might have a concussion so you need to stay awake.” His rambling is somehow calming me down and I feel my breathing starting to slow down. I take a deep breath and nod.

“Thank… you,” I whisper.

He gives me a gentle squeeze just as I hear the sound of sirens blaring in the background. “They’re coming, you hear that? The medics are about here and they’ll help you. Just hang on.”

“Ba…by,” I manage to croak out.

The look on his face does not reassure me in the least. “Yeah. Your baby, too. You’re both going to be fine.”

I want to tell him he can’t be so sure of that but I choose to believe the empty promise anyway. I will be okay. My baby boy will be okay.

What commotion was happening seconds ago is only kicked up a notch when the ambulance arrives. The stranger steps back after giving me one more hand squeeze and in his place, are the faces of determined paramedics.

The firefighters appear out of nowhere, helping to clear out the wreckage, all while I’m barely hanging on to consciousness. All the voices and sounds are muffled and I feel like I’m looking through a tunnel.

“Ma’am? I’m Carter from the Liberty Community Ambulance Department. Can you tell me your name?”

“Ash…ley,” I croak.

“Ashley, we’re going to get you out, okay? The fire department is here working quickly. Were you traveling alone? Anyone else in the vehicle with you?”

Shaking my head, I confirm. “Just me.”

He looks me over, his eyes landing on my legs that are wedged between the dash and door. “Can you move your legs?”

I test my legs and can’t move them, but I can feel them. Thankfully it feels like I’m just pinned in the car but I can wiggle my toes.

Licking my lips, I clear my throat and pray I can speak a little more clearly. “I’m… stuck.”

“We’re working on it. We’ll get you out. Do you have feeling in your legs?”

I nod and close my eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted.

“Okay. Good. Good. Ashley? I need you to stay awake for me. Look at me. Tell me a little about yourself. Can you do that?” I slowly open my eyes, my face turned toward Carter. He gives me a smile. “You’re pregnant, right?”

This time I smile in return and wrap my arms tighter around my abdomen.

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