The last thing I saw with any certainty was the little girl with a pink ice-cream on the sidewalk playing with her dog.

It had been a perfect Sunday. There had never been such a perfect Sunday before this one. The sun was warm but without a nasty glare, it had risen beautifully in a soft glow, the breeze was soft enough to stop the heat but not so much that your hair got in your way. Kids were playing outside but without screaming bloody murder and no neighbor was mowing lawns. It was the perfect temperature, the perfect amount of silence, I wasn't on call, and the family was busy with other things so my home was quiet too. I drove to the park for some fresh air and had been on my way home to meet my best friend to watch her favorite documentary...

The little girl was the last thing I was sure I saw, pink cheeks from messy melting ice-cream cone and a puppy jumping up to play...

There was flashes

There were sparks

Muffled panicked humming of voices that I could not understand

And banging like on a drum in my head

I feel wet and sticky

Jolts like noise ran through my body but never reached my ears

Someone was crying somewhere inside my head

Red and blue repeated their cycle in the distance

Crunching sounds like metal were above me physically driving pain into my muscles

My eyes heavy, nothing is clear

Blurred faces in front of me their mouths moving like fish underwater

They said everything while saying nothing

Then vertigo and a wave of queasiness

Did I move or everything around me move, nothing seemed real

Suddenly the cold hit like falling into snow

I tried to move away but something was holding me

The voices again like distant waves at the beach

I tried to scream but heard nothing

A light in my eyes moving like a lighthouse

Hands all over me like burning pokers

Something pressed on my face

my face

It felt broken like it wasn't mine

Then warmth slowly everywhere

Unfathomable pain and nothing at all

The nearby faces blurred still nearby until they drift away softly

"Jane? Jane can you hear me?"

I move towards the voice, a voice I can hear, words that are words

"You are in a hospital, you're going to be ok"

Soft caring voice comforting me, A voice I love

"Can you hear me Jane? It's Maura."

I try to move but can't, Try to open my eye's but can't, Try to move my arm but can't

I feel a hand take mine and I try to squeeze it

"I feel that Jane, do that again if you can hear me."

I squeeze again, I'm tired already

"Jane you were in an car accident, a man swerved to avoid hitting a dog and hit you, do you remember?"

I don't squeeze, I don't remember, I only remember the little girl and her dog on the sidewalk

"You are going to be alright, you just need time to heal. Your face is quite swollen and bruised and you have a few broken bones..."

The voice pauses, I know it is holding something back but I can't ask

"You should be back to normal before you know it, There are no long term disabilities. You are very very lucky."

I try to smile but can't tell if I moved. I don't believe in luck.

I ache. My aches have their own aches. I want the pain to go away.

"The doctor will be in soon to check on you"

She squeezes my hand gently

"Are you tired?"

I squeeze her hand

"Are you in pain?"

I squeeze again

A few moments pass and the pain eases away, a wave of exhaustion hits me

"I love you Jane, I am so grateful you are alive."

I squeeze back that I understand, or at least yes

"Go to sleep Jane."

She doesn't have to tell me twice, I'm too tired to do anything else

Sunday wasn't so perfect, I hope Monday will be better