My breath caught in my throat as darkness slowly slunk into the streets. Although I had never admitted it to anyone, I was petrified of the dark. I slept with the light on at night. Right now, I was three blocks from my hotel room and I could barely see my feet. Not to help things, the rain was that heavy it distorted my vision. I didn't think it ever rained this hard in Italy.
I knew it was a bad place to cross, but I was desperate to get inside, in the warmth and the light. I dashed out onto the road, briefly checking for headlights in either direction.
Suddenly I was airborne, an impact from the side tossing me like a ragdoll. I saw the gravel coming closer at an alarming speed. The pain started before I hit the ground.
I felt the rough of the gravel grate at my skin. My vision went dark. Someone was screaming. I realised it was me. My skin prickled with numbness, some of my wounds dulling to a throb. Everything hurt so much I couldn't focus on one injury. It was overwhelming. My vision became dim. I'm going to die, I thought. No one even knows, cares, I'm here. Maybe it was for the better. They were all happy with their mates and I was only a burden.
"Tanya!" Footsteps rushed toward me. "Tanya please wake up," they begged me, their voice shaking. I begrudgingly opened my eyes. The agony began as soon as I was re-awakened. I screamed.
"It's okay, Tanya calm down, it's okay." They sounded relieved.
I tried to tell them it wasn't, that I couldn't breathe and thought I was going to pass out and throw up and the same time, but no sound came out. Only a whimper.
I was in the air again. Floating this time, not uncontrolled falling. When I was moved I felt something inside of me grind against something it shouldn't. The pain was unbearable. Sobs wracked my body, not helping my situation. When I was put down again I was out of the weather and gently settled.
"You're bleeding, I need to take your jacket off, okay?" The voice was vaguely familiar and it was comforting. They gently moved my arms into a more comfortable position, the sleeves of my coat pulled straight. The small movement hurt an unbelievable amount. I cried out.
Something cold ran against my skin, something metal. My coat came away and the cold wrapped around me. Something warmer, only slightly damp was laid over me, smothering the chilled air. As a sea of flashing lights appeared, I was only vaguely aware that something was being tied around my arm.
More hands grabbed at me, not gentle like the first, and voices barked at each other. I could hear the original one protesting as they were pushed away.
I don't know how many times I screamed while being lifted into the disorientatingly white room. As the world began to shift under me as if I was in a vehicle – each small jolt causing a shock of hurt – my stomach turned. Bile rose in my throat. I gagged just as someone held a plastic container in front of my mouth. I would be eternally grateful but was still coherent enough to feel a bit embarrassed. They pulled my hair out of my face and rubbed my back. Although I was freezing, their hands were still icy and I could feel them trembling. They stayed until I couldn't feel the movement stopped.
They squeezed my hand. "I have to go, Tanya, so they can help you, but I'll see you as soon as it's done, okay? You'll be fine, they'll know what to do." He had a slight English accent and sounded upset. I struggled for a name and came up with nothing. Dread filled me as they let go and stepped back.