I haven’t seen Mrs. Amber’s phone number pop up in over a year.
Austin and N got in a car accident. A serious one.
Austin was driving, they were listening to music. It was late, around 1:00 am. They were coming back to the house in MN after the boy’s weekend ski trip. They go to Colorado to snowboard every year.
They were hit head-on by a drunk driver. After a few 360s and slamming straight on with another truck they were both unconscious. Debris from multiple cars broke the sunroof and came crashing in on them. Austin’s Tesla upside down, he woke up hanging by the seat belt. N was thrown out of the car and found laying on the concrete twenty feet away. He was covered in blood and unresponsive to the nurses in the ambulance. Austin said he saw flashing blue and red lights almost instantly after waking up. He couldn’t hear anything the medics were saying to him. He was is shock.
I got a call from Mrs. Amber. She was crying and the only words I could make out were “coma” and her son’s name. She put me on speaker while she bought me a ticket for the next flight to MN, assuming I’d want to be there. “He will want you here, he’ll want to see you when he wakes up, he… he’s. Your flight leaves tonight honey, from Omaha. I can get you some clothes here so don’t worry about packing. Austin will get you an Uber to drive you to the airport. I don’t want you driving… “
The doctors weren’t sure if he would wake up, and if he did, if it would be the normal him. His head injury looked really scary to them.
I didn’t know how to tell her, so I asked if I could pray with her. It wasn’t the time to tell her N and I don’t talk anymore. Or, that I have a boyfriend and he hates his guts and doesn’t want me to ever see him again.
Austin was physically okay. He had a glass shard from the side mirror cut his lip and a concussion from hitting his head on the steering wheel. N broke three ribs, the nurses are pulling out hundreds of glass shreds in his arms, legs, and back. His head injury and the coma is the concern though. I heard Austin in the background…
“It’s all my fault, I can’t live with myself if I killed him! The car came out of nowhere I swear! We were going to stay another night and drive back in the morning but I didn’t want to. We were just chillin and he unbuckled to reach something in the back seat and then that truck just appeared. It’s like he was trying to kill us. I’m so sorry Mrs. A.”
Situations don’t matter when people die. History, drama, misunderstandings, or whatever, it goes away when he almost dies. Of course I should go, I knew I needed to call my boyfriend and be getting on that plane. Anything that happened between us doesn’t matter anymore and my boyfriend would understand.
It had been 12 hours. Mrs. Amber was a mess without her husband. He was flying to the hospital on one of his friends private jets. He wasn’t waiting two days for a flight.
I hung up. I sat in the garage at work. What the heck am I supposed to do!? I have to go I know I do. I’ve got to call S.
Then, he opened his eyes and looked around the room confused. The nurse threw her arms in the air and screamed with joy, running out for the doctor. He didn’t say a word, he was too busy getting smothered by his mom.
I was still sitting in the garage and Austin called me. I felt so relieved. Attached and unattached. I loved him for being alive. Although my boyfriend might, I’d never wish for him to die. All of this stress fell off knowing he was okay.
I heard Mrs. Amber cry with joy, “my baby, you’re going to be okay.” The nurse came beside his bed, she pointed a little light in his eyes and clicked it in and off. “Hi there. How are you feeling?” He didn’t say anything. “Can you try and say something honey? You’re doing great, but I need you to talk for me.” He didn’t say anything. The nurse looked back to his mom. “It’s okay if he doesn’t talk right away, but it’s very important that he does soon.” She left the room.
“I’m so sorry Nate.” Austin said. “I’m so glad you’re alive. You had me sacred there for a minute.” He squinted his eyes and touched the wrap on his head in pain. “Don’t touch that honey!” His mom said. He looked up and focused on Austin.
“Can you tell me what’s happening?” I asked Austin who was still on the phone with me. “He woke up but he isn’t talking. The nurse said that if he doesn’t soon…”
“Is that Kate?”
Austin started laughing. Praise the Lord the man speaks! Mrs. Amber ran to tell the nurse. Austin sobbed hugging him. “Where is she? Why are you talking to her?” “Here, ask her yourself,” he said handing him the phone.
“Is it you?” he said. I chuckled, “Yes it’s me. Are you alive?” “I think I am…but I don’t feel like it.” “I’m so glad you’re okay.” There was silence. I heard beeping sounds and people talking near him but he wasn’t saying anything. “Why are you talking to Austin?” He said. “Your mom called me and told me what happened, It was really scary.” “Am I still in a coma?” He asked. “No, you’re talking to me right now,” I said. “That’s why I’m asking if this is real.”
“I love you, I’m never going to not.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay N. I really am.” I hung up.
I felt like I should cry or something. But I didn’t. I’m glad he’s alive and that’s the only feeling I have. I’ll get over whatever else.
Thanks for reading. I learned something, not sure what yet.
-Elaina
Elaine Kate 