Riding with Emily

Without Emily’s help, you would have had to stay in the hospital at least a few more days. Thankfully, your cousin is able to convince the doctor that she is capable of taking care of you, even in your weakened state.

And weakened you are. Each time you stand, a wave of dizziness hits you. The exertion from walking from the front door of the hospital to Emily’s car leaves you sweating, and developing a low-grade headache.

“You’re going to be alright,” Emily tells you when she notices your discouraged face in the car, “you and mom both. It’s a miracle you both made it out of that wreck. The nurses told me that usually people don’t walk away from that kind of accident. Let’s count our blessings and you take the time you need to recover.”

“I was only going to stay for a week,” you say, “I guess those plans are blown, right?”

“Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans,” Emily says with a smile, merging onto the street, leaving the parking lot, “I think I heard that in a movie or something.”

“It’s from a John Lennon song,” you respond absentmindedly while watching the traffic, “Beautiful Boy.”

“I didn’t know you were into John Lennon,” Emily says, “no wonder you get along with my mom so well. She’s, like, obsessed with his music.”

You look over at your cousin and don’t know what to say. Realizing that you are pretty sure you’ve never heard the song “Beautiful Boy”, nor almost anything John Lennon had written after he left the Beatles, but at the same time the idea of listening to him feels appealing, like it would be a soothing balm to your troubled mind.

“I’ve set you up in my mom’s room, like she asked,” Emily interrupts your thoughts.

“Thanks so much for putting up with me.”

“It’s honestly no problem. The apartment feels lonely when it’s just me, and having you sleep on the couch when my mom’s room will be empty for a few weeks just doesn’t make sense,” she pauses, then, “the truck that hit you was totally at fault, you know.”

“I’m sure,” you say, “but I can’t remember the accident much. It’s like my memory has holes in it.”

“Well, what didn’t have holes was the dashcam on the truck. My mom’s insurance company called last week and told me that you and she should expect a payout. It’s going to be big.”

“How big?”

“Like, big big.”

“I guess that solves the problem of saving for school.”

Your cousin laughs. “Is that all you’re worried about? School?” She laughs again, “you just walked away from a huge accident. A one-in-a-million survival chance! And you’re worried about school. You should be happy! Celebrate your life!”

“Oh hush up, you,” you scold playfully.

Emily continues to laugh. “You even talk like my mom! Are you sure I didn’t pick up the wrong patient?”

You smile, enjoying the sound of Emily’s laugh, and turn back to the traffic. You survived. It’s going to take some time to recover, but you can do it. In the meantime, maybe you’ll take Emily’s advice.

Once you’re doing a bit better, that is.