I get off of work and walk out to my car, a few minutes later that usual just because I almost had an approach for one of my MRI scans figured out. I get into the car (as a doctor I know it was weird that I had an older car but I was still in student loan debt and that car had been in my family for 21 years. For some reason all day I kept repeating a phrase over and over in my head I had read during drivers ed, "In an accident slam into the breaks hard." I couldn't figure out how I even got that into my head to begin with, I didn't even talk about driving to anyone that day. I back out of my parking space and headed onto the main drag and stopped at the red light, I need to make a right, but I just didn't feel like making a right on red. My light turned green and I turn onto the next street to head towards my ex sister in law (although she's still like my sister)'s apartment. I've been living with her, it's just more economical and more fun, I got tired of living on my own. Also I think she feels the need to babysit me to make sure I don't slip again. As I was driving up a road where I had right of way out of the corner of my eye I see this car heading out and it looked like they were going too fast. The next thing I know I'm flying one lane over and popped up on the middle divider of the street. I keep digging into the break but it felt like it was doing nothing. The whole time I had no control over my car (which was only a few seconds but felt like hours) I can't even really describe what I was thinking. I put my car in park (I guess, I don't remember doing that but I had too because I got the keys out). I got out and notice my lights were still on so I turn them off and just stood there. This man came running across three lanes of traffic. He was maybe 20 years older than me, but cute in a way. I was so mad but I have this hope he wasn't the one who hit me because he seems too cute to be mad at.
"Did you hit me," I ask with attitude.
"No, I didn't really see what happened I was driving in front of you and I was puling over anyways so I stopped and the police are on their way I called them."
"Oh, the person who hit me didn't leave right?"
"No, their bumper is broken off they can't drive on it," He said. He had a nice voice.
"Was he drunk?"
"No, it was an elder woman,"
"Oh. So what happens now?"
"The police will be here soon, they can probably call you a tow truck, and hopefully she has insurance,"
"There's no way this could be my fault right?"
"No, it's the back of your car, she drove into you,"
"Oh ok." We stand in silence. I try to call Addison but her yoga class wont be over for another four minutes so she isn't picking up.
"Do you have a ride home? Where do you live?"
"Twenty-seventh and ocean, I tried to call someone but they aren't picking up."
"I'm on twenty-fourth and park (a street over from ocean), I was on my way to pay this bill over there," He pointed at a building. "I Know they close in a few minutes so I'm going to go pay it and before I leave I'll check to see if your still here.
"Thanks sir," He ran across the street. That was the last I ever saw of him, never got his last name so I can't even thank him. Within minutes one of the motor cops shows up.
"Can I see your license and insurance and registration ma'am,"
"Yes," I go into my car digging to get stuff out. I hand my information to him and he starts writing something down and I nearly start crying. "Am… am I in trouble?"
"No, I'm getting your information for her and then I'm going to get her information for you."
"Oh ok." That was kind of awkward, the fact that I'm an adult crying thinking I'm in trouble with the police. I keep dialing Addison and finally she picks up.
"Addie, I'm fine, I didn't get hurt, it wasn't my fault, I'm not drunk or high, some lady drove into my car." Saying it just makes it seem more real.
"Amy, what do you mean, where are you" She sounds worried.
"My car crashed, I wont be able to drive it," I tell her where I am and then look back at my car, I'm nearly centimeters from a tree, if it were any closer this could have been way worse. Addison gets there and wraps her arms around me. As the tow truck pulls up we empty everything out of my car, patient files, water bottles, all of it goes into the bag I had and Addison helps me cross the street. We get into her car.
"Are you sure you're physically O.k, no concussion or anything, whiplash, headaches?"
"Yes nothing hit me." I'm really monitoned and flat right now trying not to be too bothered.
We get home and I walk in. Addie carries my stuff in behind me. "I was going to make soup for dinner, I'll start heating some up," Addie says to me.
"That's o.k, I'll just go to bed."
"Amelia, it's six-thirty, you need to eat something." She's giving me the mommy look meaning she wont take no for an answer. I let her heat up the soup and put it in a bowl, she probably would have spoon fed it to me if I asked. I call my insurance company to leave a message and then go into the shower. I turn the water on hot, something I use to do to feel when I was doing drugs, but I can't stand it for too long now that all my feeling is back. I wash my hair and my body and come out of the shower. I can hear my T.V on. I walk out of the bathroom and Addison is in my bed, in her pajamas, under the blankets eating popcorn. She has on say yes to the dress.
"What are you doing?" I ask while pulling out some soft pajamas and a tank top.
"Getting ready for bed?"
"In my bed?"
"Yes."
"You're staying here tonight I assume. In here I mean."
"You think I'm just going to let you sleep alone?"
"I'm fine really," I sit down and eat some popcorn.
"No, you're not." I'm too tired to argue so I get on my side of the bed and lay down. As I lay down I feel like I'm in the car being hit again, which doesn't seem weird just because any day when I go on a rollercoaster or bodysurf in the ocean or go on a boat I always get that feeling at night when I lay down. I wake up with my head on Addison's shoulder I'm not quite sure how it got there, I feel warm and just want to sip some cool water. I get up and glance at the clock, it's five in the morning. I lay back down in my bed, cuddling up next to Addison because I'm really cold. It's not weird that we share a bed. I think it started a long time ago when her and Derek were dating, we would have sleepovers when Derek was away and I was telling her some sad story one night and she laid with me that night. She's so comforting. When I wake up again she's sitting up in bed looking at me. "Do you remember the middle of the night?" she asks me.
"No, I fell asleep and when I woke up I was on your shoulder."
"Around midnight you were clutching your pillow yelling no, you wouldn't say anything else so I just held you until you fell asleep.
"Oh," I say. We both already had the day off so we aren't in any hurry. "Have you told anyone else about this yet?"
"No," I just wanted to take care of you first.
"Well let's not, my siblings and mother don't need to be called about this, I'm fine. Maybe if it comes up in conversation next time someone calls, but I don't need you making any extra phone calls to anyone."
"I respect your privacy Amelia, do you want some breakfast?"
"I don't want to leave this bed."
"I'll bring something to you."