Preface

He sees the side of the glossy black taxi in front of him, the driver already winding down his window, and at the edge of his field of vision something he can't quite make out, something coming towards him at an impossible speed.

He turns towards it, and in that split second, he realises that he is in its path, that there is no way he is going to be able to get out of its way. His hand opens in surprise, letting the BlackBerry fall to the ground. He hears a shout, which may be his own.

He is tackled down from his right side before pain shoots through his head and everything goes dark.

Beep…Beep…Beep…

I groaned as the incessant beeping shot through my brain, pulsing hard throughout my body.

"Good morning, Mr Traynor. Nice of you to join us." The silky voice rang through the air. An unfamiliar voice. I squinted in the bright light of the clean white room. A woman stood at the side of me with her clipboard pressed against her chest. Her dark complexion radiating in the white light and chocolate eyes filled with humour. "I'm Doctor Imani, you are at the London Bridge Private Hospital. You suffered a head injury and a fracture in your left arm. We were told you were tackled to the ground to save you being hit by a motorbike. You are a very lucky man." I nodded at her, only understanding half of the conversation. "I've ordered an MRI to check there are no long-term injuries to your brain, but for now, can you answer some questions for me." I nodded. "Can you tell me the names of your immediate family, mother, father and sister."

"Camilla, Steven, Georgina." She made notes on her clipboard, ticking off as I gave my answers.

"Good, your age?"

"31."

"And where did you grow up?"

"Stortford?"

"Profession?"

"Banker."

"Perfect. You seem to have very little injury. Your parents are here, shall I send them in?" She turns to leave.

"When was the accident?" She stares at her clipboard.

"A week ago, today." She smiles and leaves the room.

As soon as the door closes, it swings open again. "Will, darling, I'm so glad you are awake, we have been worried sick." I saw my father pull her back from me to give space.

"I'm fine. Just tired and sore." I closed my eyes again to block out the bright lights and the fretful face on my mother. Sobs racked through her body and she turned to look out the window, hiding every ounce of feeling, as always. "You both don't need to be here. I'm alright, I'll be out of here soon." I hoped. "I actually need some time to think. I haven't even thought about what happened yet. I've been out cold a week I need to catch up on what I've missed. Where's my BlackBerry?" My father handed the phone to me, the screen cracked and plastic scratched but still working.

"Come Camilla, let him rest. We'll talk later." My mother looked at me, she had put on her daily face. Cold, unfeeling, untouched. She nodded at me and walked out, followed by my father.

I shifted carefully, wincing, into a straighter sitting position. I looked out of the window, catching my reflection, grimacing.

"What in the hell happened to me?" I looked at my phone in my hand and thought about what had happened.

I had been on my way to work, a big meeting, a conference call with Jeff in New York that I had been ignoring all night. Alicia has insisted my phone had been on silent for one night which I had reluctantly agreed to. I pressed the button which gave life to my phone. 20 missed calls from a week ago and 33 messages. Rupert, Alicia, some work colleagues, all on the day of the accident. Nothing had been sent since. I wondered if anyone had been to visit me besides my parents.

The Doctor had said I was tackled to the ground. With a rush, the memories flooded back. The pain down my side where someone had knocked me down. The sound of the bike coming towards me, dropping my phone, yelling out. It jolted me; I could have died.

I was so wrapped up in the thought of my shortened life expectancy I didn't hear the door open and close.

"Will?" I looked up to see Rupert's eyes on me and next to him, Alicia. "How are you doing Will?"

"I feel like I've been hit by a car, but other than that great." Rupert smiled while Alicia looked horrified.

"Will! Don't say things like that. You could have had yourself killed!" That again, died, killed, death. I watched as Rupert put an arm around Alicia and wiped a tear from her face. I furrowed my eyebrows as I watched the encounter.

Rupert turned to me, arm dropping to Alicia's waist. "Actually Will, we do need to speak to you, we wish it was under better circumstances, but unfortunately the circumstance is the cause."

"Stop speaking in riddles and man up." I barked back.

"Alicia and I, we want to be together. We would like your blessing."

I shook my head in disbelief. "I'm sorry, I think I misheard you. I've been in a coma for ONE week and you have slimed in on my girlfriend."

Alicia chirped up, sheltering Rupert from my backlash. "It's not like that, Will. I was so upset when they brought you in, we weren't sure if you were going to be okay. Rupert comforted me; he was there for me. It just, sort of, happened."

"Get out." I looked away from them.

"Will, please." She begged.

"Get out!" I threw the phone against the wall and watched as it shattered scattering pieces across the floor.

Rupert ushered Alicia out of the room as she began to sob. A nurse rushed in afterwards, she saw the mess and went to grab a broom.

"Apologies, my best friend and girlfriend…" A pitying look crossed her features.

"We heard…I'm very sorry." She gave a sombre smile and left the room.

I couldn't believe what had just taken place. One week and they had gone behind my back. They probably wished I had died. The word sent chills through me.

Dead.