fridasflower

[fridasflower]

3 Walden street | How I remember The night we met

Sumary: Nora saved his life, but she is not a hero. She keeps a hammer in the boot of her car. She is good at giving nick names, home made meals, road rage and being the best at her crap job.

"So how many bottles of wine will you have after?" She heard a voice behind her.

"Yes." Was her simple answer. Fake smile. Closed door on her car. And leave the parking area. As fast as possible.

And that rain again.

With interior lights in her car going off, she could finally let her face drop. Her shoulders relaxed, a big sigh of relief left her mouth.

Tomorrow is the day off.

Maybe there was a little smirk on her face turning her steering wheel, thinking the place is a bit behind with original planning. But it was 11pm a.k.a it sounds like not my problem o'clock.

"Thanks for today Nora!" She politely nodded to her boss she was passing with her grey 2012 Kia ceed.

In reality, she knew, she was just the number in the headcount. The moment she stops performing, they will replace her.

Because the boss looks so good to be heard yelling the words of gratitude at the end of shit show shift.

"Nevermind, another day done." She murmured to herself.

7 lucky years with the same company and no promotion taught her how to let it go.

It is what it is now and for sure it is not great.

However they tried to call it, development, wrong timing or we do not give a flying damn about you, there was no other choice as just accept it. Money was the motivation and the need to pay the bills was the fuel for her to show up in that place 5 times per week.

And that`s what being an adult is about.

"It is what it is." She said with a little voice.

Another motivational quote which Elza should sing in the magical story. But Nora found herself living in the middle of a tragic comedy rather than a fairytale.

Nora

"I can't see!" I had to step my foot down from the gas pedal. My usual journey home from work became a session of swimming in the pool on 4 tyres. Poor wipers were doing the maximum, but not enough for me to see where I am going. And the sound of rain beating up the roof of my car was making the whole driving experience even worse.

"Oh my..." I almost hugged my steering wheel to see better.

With another sharp turn there were lights coming up in the opposite way. The high beams burned my eyes and I cursed the moment it was difficult for me to keep them open.

"What a prick." Blinking the tears away I looked in my rear mirror. It was very nice of them to see where they are going while the rest of us stay blinded.

Learn how to set up your light mate.

"Girl don't..." I hushed myself, before my road rage started.

One thing that can get me angry are idiots on the roads.

I raised my eyes to the mirror one more time, confused look swapped my upset frown.

That car was not moving.

One of the rear lights off.

With a better look I realised, it was not even fully on the road.

"No way." I could not carry on like that: driving my car with my eyes glued to the rear mirror. And I definitely could not simply carry on driving and act like nothing happened.

"No panic, just do not panic." Carefully I pulled my car on the side of the road.

Hand break on, hazard lights on.

"Shit." who was I kidding? I was in full panic mode. I was scared of what I would see in that car, I felt helpless and hopeless, immediate cold has got underneath my skin.

I was not a hero.

Shutting the car door I realised, I have no other choice. It was dark and late, bad weather made everyone stay at home, the chance that someone will pass this B road type was near 0.

"Hello?" I tried to announce myself. What dark and rainy night was hiding, closer view on the rollover accident took my already stuck breath away. Calling tha driver a prick was not fair.

"Can you hear me?" Dropping on my knees I reached for the handle on the driver side, the door was locked. That would be too easy.

"I will help, promise!" I reassured both of us. With a flashlight on my phone I carried on to check other windows. There was nobody else in the car, just the driver. For second it was relief not to worry who to save first. I had to just focus on how to get inside that damn car and get one person out.

Think!

In the movies the cars often explode and on my second circle around the car I felt the heat coming from the engine. Maybe I don't have that much time left.

"I will be back in 10 seconds!" Running back to my car, not waiting for a response, I had the plan already in my head.

"I knew the time would come." I opened my car boot and reached for the hammer.

Why dd I keep a hammer in my car? Long story.

Feeling like total genius I returned back and with a strong swing I hit the glass of the passenger window. And after, another strong hit aimed to the corner. Maybe the adrenaline rush helped me to give it such a force.

"I am with you, I am with you." Crawling I entered the car.

I had the need to cry as soon as I saw the unconscious person. It was a boy or a man with a boyish look. Half of his face was covered with blood, his lips parted. But, he was breathing.

His position was painfully uncomfortable, his upper limbs hanging in the air. God knows how long he has been left here. He was wearing his seatbelt, which probably saved his life.

The inside of the car looked very expensive, but one thing was missing. Airbags.

"What now, think, think." I looked around, the beeping sound made my head turn.

Bingo.

With a shaky finger I pressed the SOS button.

"GPS location sent to the emergency services." Robotic voice said. That was good news for me, but still left me unsure, if that was enough. I could not ignore the rising temperature in the car. Something was telling me, it is not a good sign.

"Hey, we need to go." This was not over. I needed him to wake up.

"Please. It will be okay, just open your eyes. I am here." I regret being a lazy brat and not educating myself more about first aid and how to effectively wake up an unconscious person.

No prayers were useful and the level of hopelessness reached my red numbers.

"WAKE UP." I shouted an order.

And like a soldier he listened and opened his eyes, loudly filling his lungs with air.

"Shit. I mean, we need to release this belt, now. Help me." With zero explanation I ordered. I ignored the moment I jumped from the scare he gave me and hit my head.

"Where am I." He was confused. I did not blame him for being a bit unclear, hanging upside down with a strange girl in his personal space...but there was no time for words.

"I will explain later. Now you have to support yourself, using your hands, on 3 I will undo the belt and you will be finally free. One, TWO." Not sure if my rescue method was correct I took a deep breath and pressed the red button near his hip.

"Tree. Shit." There was no click.

"It is stuck." I looked in his eyes. He looked defended realising that. Like... the happy ending is not happening, the super hero have lost the fight or there will be no sunrise tomorrow.

Think, think!

And then it hit me.

In my pocket there were my keys.

"I am telling you, I never thought I would say it, but right now....I freaking love my job!" I squeaked with excitement. Dumb folded he was watching me holding a brand new plastic safety knife. It was always attached to my keys, because it was so easy to lose it. Working in a warehouse has its benefits.

"Tree!" I was so ready to cut the belt and get the hell out of that car.

I never felt more proud of myself as the moment he landed free right next to me.

"And now, out." One simple manoeuvre and I exited the car as the first one. Turning back I offered my hand and helped him to get out faster. He reached for my hand immediately, his strong squeeze of my palm surprised me. As they trained me on my pristine condition training I used my big engines to pull him out. We had half of the second to take a breath of relief.

"We should...there is my car." The reason why it was getting so warm inside, were flames dancing on the front of his car. I didn't mean to panic or rush him, but I gladly took all his weight on me just to walk faster.

We were safe. He was out of that car.

"Here." Supporting his torso I leaned him on my car. The boot was still open from last time.

I grabbed my spare uniform jackets and wrapped him like a layered burrito. Again I had no idea what to do, the bare minimum was to keep him warm.

"Maybe you should sit down." I offered. Breaking the eye contact with the burning car, he lowered himself to the edge of the boot. Painful hiss escaped his lips.

"The help is on the way." I reassured myself. He gave me a small nod, not knowing I was just talking to myself. It was a pure miracle, he was in one piece. His head trauma did look concerning though.

"I am sorry, but I have to." Another hiss when I put pressure on broken skin. That`s what needs to be done right?

"Are you a nurse?" He asked with his eyes on my hands.

Did I look like a nurse? Or was I acting as a nurse?

"As much as I would like to say yes, to make you less worried about your well being... I have to say no." I opened another package of bandages in my first aid. Oh lord if he knew how I was questioning my every step.

"About the time." I murmured looking up. The heavy intense rain has slowed down. Same as my breathing and heart rate.

My head suddenly felt heavy. I felt the cold and relief, hunger and lack of sleep. It was like my body went back to factory settings with no presence of adrenaline.

"Thank you." I looked down at the man. The bloody makeup did not suit him, but his eyes were filled with gratitude.

"Here. Hold it for me." I aimed his hand to put pressure on the wound. He was still shivering, trembling blue lips desperately trying to hide the sound of chattering teeth.

While waiting for help I could not let him freeze to death.

"Not long, they will be here soon." I promised. My dad`s scarf was the last layer tucked around his shoulders. He murmured another quiet thank you, avoiding eye contact.

"Finally, here!" The odd and short silence was interrupted by a siren of an incoming ambulance. That made my face smile and my heart jump. Very quickly I moved forward to navigate them straight to us.

I probably looked like crazy lady, trying to jump infront of someone`s car.

I could care less.

"Woah." I stopped in my tracks. The celebrating song in my head was put on hold by more oncoming emergency vehicles.

Wow.

Firefighters and 2 black SUVs with blue flashing lights inside.

All doors on the cars were open at the same time, the synchronization was non human.

"He is ok, his head-" I tried to explain, but like an invisible ghost the paramedics passed me running towards my car. The time slowed down with all action going on.

Wow.

I watched how 2 bodyguard looks like men supported bloody face stranger from each side. My scarf and jacket were tossed on the wet asfalt and replaced with a foil blanket. The boy was quickly surrounded by them and my view of him became blocked.

"Miss." The deep voice spun me around. It was mixed with other voices mumbling not clear orders from walkie-talkie on the police officer`s chest. His face was red and then blue, red and then blue.

"I was on my way home from work-" I started explaining pointing on my car. I was the hero of the day, not a bad guy right?

"Are you hurt miss? Your hand is bleeding." My defense hearing was interrupted. His concerned look with my clueless one was a perfect mixture for a cameo in a comedy show.

"I -..." It felt like my brave self and scared/shiting my pants self came back together. Blinking I looked down at my palm. I did not recall the moment I hurt myself.

Maybe crawling over hundreds of broken glass pieces was not the best idea.

How funny the human brain works. With no knowledge of injury, there was no pain.

"No, I am fine. I just want to go home." The sting of broken skin started bothering me more than I wanted to show. The wet clothes sticking to my body were bothering me as well. Turning my back to him I secretly hid my hand in the sleeve of the hoodie. In the back of my mind I already saw myself explaining my injury to the management in work. That was much more painful than cut on my palm.

"We are on the move!" Someone shouted to regain my attention. I watched how they quickly led the stranger whose head was now hanging on the side to the ambulance. The doors were shut and the vehicle moved forward. All I could do is just stare.

"I hope he is going to be ok." I prayed loudly.

"It's over, go home. You did your best. Don't beat yourself up." Officer's heavy hand landed on my shoulder to give me a reassurance pat.

Music blasting from the radio did not stop Nora from dropping her tired head on the steering wheel. For some reason she grew a habit to stay like that in the car for a couple of minutes after shit show shift. It was almost like she did not want to come to her stress free house in a state of total burnout.

"Alright." The soft touch of her finger stopped the singer telling her you have to bleed to feel you are alive. Given silence was the treat for her dark aura.

There she was, in the end road of the street, by the house she was just renting, with no working street lights and dark sky.

"Shit." Her soul jumped out of her body by a sudden loud knock on the window. Never in her life would expect someone to be by her house. It was the last house of the street, hidden by not cut trees and many potholes leading to the driveway.

"Excuse me." The person - man looked very guilty for scaring her. He could be in his forties, nice coat and scarf, but he was still shivering.

"Are you lost?" Nora asked and still kept her car doors locked. A nice look does mean nothing.

"My friend would like to talk to you. My name is Nathan, I work for him." He was talking louder even though she could hear him perfectly. She hesitated for a second, thinking if that could be the way criminals are luring the victims to the white van.

"Look I promise you we are not creeps who will kidnap you, yes at the moment I quite fit in that description, but he just want to say thank you." He waved signal and second person came to his side.

"Hi." The upside down man waved at her, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

"You." Her jaw dropped.

"What in the hell..." Taking keys out of the ignition she could not believe what was happening. The accident happened not even a week ago, her own injury was far from being healed and he was standing here right in front of her, when last time she saw him, they had to carry him.

"You indeed look like two creeps, it is just me and my postman who are walking around. Not even an ice-cream man bothers to turn this way."