Colson:Need to see you. Can we meet up?
My phone ends up on the seat with my food as this newfangled eagerness taps in rhythm with my heartbeat. I glance over at the screen, willing it to light up with a response as I back out of my spot and make it back on the road.
I roll to a stop at an intersection and make my way through, noting the giddiness that seems to be taking over that previous paranoia. Damn. I’ve felt too many emotions in such a short span of time, but this feels good. Like I’m finally finding myself again.
I look at the time on the dash, the blurry red numbers staring back at me.
12:37.
That buzz fades when it hits me that Violet is probably sleeping. She has classes and her gig at the daycare, so unless she’s up late studying, I won’t hear from her until morning. It takes everything in me to stay on the street leading back to my mom’s instead of making a right turn for the 401. Spring Meadows suddenly sounds like a better destination.
What would she do if I showed up, my fist knocking against her apartment door until she opened it for me? This overwhelming need to prove myself to her hits me. To prove that I’m not the asshole I’ve acted like. To prove that even if I’m not worthy of every ounce of her, I’ll work every goddamn day to show her how grateful I am for her. To prove that I can be what she needs, if only she’ll let me back into her life.
I come to a stop at a traffic light where the tri-colored lights sway in the cool midnight breeze.
I can’t believe I fucked it up this much with her. I wouldn’t be surprised if she never wanted to see me again, but no.I can’tgive her that. Shehasto give me a second chance. I’ll show her I’ll never need another one. At least not to the extent of this one.
I smack my palm on the steering wheel when the light takes forever to change back to green. “Come the fuck on.” I got shit to do. Like pack up what I want at Mom’s house and go win my girl back.
When it finally blinks green, I ease my foot off the brake and reach over for my energy drink. I press down on the gas slowly and flick my can open, tilting it to my lips to get a head start on my energy high, but then headlights come out of nowhere from my left.
I turn my head to get a better look at the car in the distance, noting that it’s driving pretty fast for having a red light. My drink falls from my hand, the condensation making it slip and spill out over my lap. The cold liquid spanning out over my legs and groin steals my attention. I don’t press harder on the gas like I should.
I turn my attention away from the headlights coming at me like a bat out of hell.
By the time I look back over at them, it’s too late.
I’mtoo late.
FORTY-SIX
COLSON
Blackness.
That's all I can seem to focus on.
And pain.
It’severywhere.
My legs, my head, my arm.
I try to open my eyelids, but they’re too heavy, and I…I can’t. They don’t budge. Something is wrong, but I don’t know what.
I attempt to move my arm, but it seems like the hardest thing in the world. It doesn’t get the signal to shift like I want it to.
I try my eyes again.
Nothing.
It’s too…dark.
Like the night sky after all the stars have fallen from it.
A weird smell encases me, briefly distracting me from my body failing to work.It worked mere hours ago.Fuck, why can’t I lift my arm? Why does my head feel like someone took a hammer to it?
I choke out a cough that makes my ribcage throb.
