Human Condition

a/n: Clare is an only child in this story, and she is going to be a senior at Degrassi. I had a decent idea for a this story, though I am currently still working on another one called Summer of Clare. Check that one out if you like.

Clare's POV

I awoke to rain pounding on steel, and it was coming through the non-existent windshield soaking me to the core. I wiped my face, which was already wet. The odor of oil and hot metal filled my nostrils harshly, as I slowly came to from my disorientation. I lifted my hands right in front of my eyes; they were red.

"Mom?" I choked. My tongue felt swollen inside my mouth, and a metallic taste filled it.

I glanced around my surroundings. My mother's jade Toyota Corrolla's was on its driver's side. I was hanging sideways, kept in place by my seatbelt, which was cutting deep in my shoulder. I was aware now of my situation.

My eyes frantically raked the car to see how I could escape the scrap metal mess, and they fell upon my mother. She was unnaturally still; her eyes were glassy and staring.

"Mom," I whispered, my heart beating a mile a minute.

I noticed that her neck was bent at an unusual angle.

"Mom..Mom, Mom, Mom, MOM!"

I ripped at the seatbelt that held me against my will. I needed to get to her; she needed my help to get out of the car. I finally freed myself and climbed out of the cracked windshield. I got down on the ground, as close as I could to my mom.

"Mom, please be okay," I cried. I grabbed her one free, limp hand.

I never even heard the sirens. I suddenly felt a gentle hand on my shoulder, and I was surrounded by medical staff. I couldn't hear their questions; I couldn't answer them. My breathing became more shallow, and I couldn't understand what was happening.

"She's in shock, we need to get her out of here," I heard from a distance. I couldn't leave her, I couldn't leave my mother's side.

"No, she needs me, I need to stay with her."

Strong hands lifted me away from my mom, and I reluctantly dropped her hand. It fell to the ground with a small thud.

"No need for medic over here, this one's gone," I barely heard. I didn't understand what they meant by gone.

The next thing I knew I was being strapped down and pushed into an ambulance.

"Patient is 18 year old female, laceration to the forehead, abdomen and right leg. Possible fractured right radius. Is conscious; BP 90/60. Other victim is 46 year old male, unconscious, possible neck fracture, hematoma to the abdomen, possible internal bleeding. TBI is possible; bleeding from the ears. BP is 80/60, hypotensive and critical."

My senses came back to me a little bit. Other victim?

"No, my Mother, she's the other victim; she needs help," I tried to sit up, but I immediately felt strong hands pushing me back down on the gurney.

I turned my head over to see the other patient. This guy must have been the other vehicle involved with the crash. I couldn't see his face, since it was covered by a bag valve mask. My eyes fell to his wrist. He was sporting a familiar watch. I strained my eyes to get a better look. The watch I had gotten my father for Christmas had similar markings on the face. My eyes darted back up to the man's face.

"DAD!" I screamed.

Panic flooded me as I recognized the unresponsive man on the gurney beside me.

"DAD! DAD!"

I was thrashing uncontrollably, trying to get to my father's side.

"Sedate her already!" I heard a medic yell.

My heart beat slowed down to a crawl as my world swirled into blackness.