Page 55 of Stroked
How could she? Speaking to my mother in secret? Discussing things like that, like me.
My shaking got progressively worse as I drove, so I was relieved to see a yellow light ahead. I stopped just before it turned red and took a deep cleansing breath, trying to calm myself since the highway was a few lights ahead. My knuckles were white as I gripped the wheel. The sound of the blinker sent my nerves into a worse frenzy, so I used the toggle on the steering wheel to turn up the radio, then glanced at the panel to see the stations as I flipped through.
Glancing up, the light was green, and I wasn’t sure how long it had been, so I pressed the gas pedal down.
Suddenly, the sound of an explosion burst by my ear. My eyes squeezed tight as the force of the airbags thundered through me; the seatbelt kept me from going to the passenger side of the car, while another airbag slammed my head into the headrest. Restrained in my seatbelt, my head and arms bounced wildly upon impact.
Cold, sharp glass danced across my arms and face as the car spun more times than I could count. Each rotation of the car felt like an eternity, with shards floating in the air as I squinted just long enough to make sure I could still see. Then finally, with an abrupt bump, it all stopped. No movement, no sound, except that of my own pulse slamming in my head.
At first, I heard nothing but muffled sounds and my eyes took several blinks to adjust. I lifted my right hand. It still shook like it did when I was at the red light, only now it bled from several little cuts. But when I tried to move my left arm, I gritted my teeth and winced from the pain.
A shadow in the car forced me to look up and I saw a man at the door, then he was gone. I could turn my head, but it was slow. The muffled sounds were louder now. When I finally managed to turn my head, I saw Jason at my window.
“Val, shit!” he shouted as he opened the door. “Can you hear me?” His voice was muffled, like he was at the end of a long tunnel, but I could understand him.
I nodded as much as I could muster. “Sort of, it is starting to come back.”
He started to speak to me, his face calm, but I only caught bits and pieces. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I called 911,” he spoke up this time and I could hear, so I nodded. “Just hang tight until the ambulance comes. That was a bad hit. Don’t try to move. I’m gonna go check on the other guy, but I’ll be back, okay?”
“Yes,” I said, my words trembling.
It wasn’t long before sirens rang out, but Jason was back at my side before anyone else.
“Okay, they’re coming. I’m gonna get out of the way. Is there anything you want me to do? Anyone to call?”
“Take my phone, my bag is there.” I pointed to the passenger seat.
Jason reached over me and grabbed the bag. “Who do you want me to call?”
“Mãe, my mom.” He nodded and looked through my bag. He started to back away as the sirens got closer. Suddenly, I needed her to know. I blurted out, “And Jason, please tell Amy.”
“I will, it’s gonna be fine.” Jason was pulling my phone out when the EMTs rushed over. “Wait, what’s your password?”
I shouted my password out as the EMTs started asking me questions. I watched from the corner of my eye as Jason paced around on the phone.
“Ma’am, we are gonna put this brace on, then we are slipping something underneath you. We will strap you to it to keep your spine straight, but don’t worry. It’s just standard procedure, alright?”
I agreed and they made quick work of placing a brace around my neck, then slid a stiff board beneath me, strapping my arms and legs securely. Then, quickly but gingerly, they pulled the board from the car and loaded me onto a stretcher. My whole body began shaking again, so badly my teeth chattered.
“You’re gonna be okay, ma’am,” the man said as I was being lifted into the back of an ambulance. Before the doors closed, everything went dark.
Chapter 29
Amy
The door slammed and I jumped, tears forcing themselves from my eyes at the harsh sound. Everything just happened so fast. I was stunned until the jarring noise. As the warm tears rolled over my cheeks, heaving sobs shook my chest. I crumpled to the floor in front of the sofa, pulling my knees up and burying my face between them.
She left before I could explain how I was practically cornered by her mother. But I wanted to do the right thing and tell her so she wasn’t blindsided, since it seemed Maria planned to speak to her about it. In hindsight, maybe I should have mentioned I had a meeting. But honestly, it was meant to be a business meeting.
Why did the first woman I felt something for have to be related to my first big client? Maybe the universe was punishing me. For what, I didn’t know. But something definitely felt unreasonably harsh with this whole situation.
As the sobs slowed, I lifted my head and brushed my fingers across my cheeks, clearing away the salty moisture. Once my eyes were cleared, I noticed my sculpture on the floor. Leaning onto my knees, I reached around the table and grabbed it. That's when I realized it was only part of it. Scrambling to my feet, I walked around the table and saw the other half lying there. I reached down and grabbed it, then pressed the two pieces together. A new wave of tears flooded my vision as I held the broken sculpture. It had some sentimental value because I made it, of course. But the hurt was deeper than that. It was like a sign. The connection was broken.
My legs became wobbly, so I let myself fall to the floor, landing on my hip– a trick I learned ice skating as a child. I sat on the floor, clutching the two pieces of the sculpture as more quiet tears streamed down my face.
Staring at the broken women, I replayed everything in my head over and over. There was no other way to have broken this to Valentina, no way that could have prevented her reaction. But now I was left sitting on my floor, holding broken pieces of pottery while I cried like a little girl.
