“Yes, but you still need to know how to do it.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon mastering the art of parking. Only when he was satisfied I’d pass did he get back in the car.
“Okay, now, let’s see how you drive on the highway.” He directed me again, all the while muttering about how winter was not the best time to learn to drive.
“Well, it was either now or walk another winter. By the time I get to work every night, my toes are purple!” I exclaimed.
“Why don’t you ask people for rides?”
“I don’t ask for help if I can help it. I don’t need anyone but myself.”
“There’s no shame in asking when you need it.” His tone softened.
“Nope. I just figure it out. I always do. I’ve only ever had myself to lean on, I’m not stopping now.”
He reached out and placed his hand on my thigh. “You can lean on me.”
“Can I? I’ve seen you one time this year. You know how I spent New Year’s Eve? Alone, drawing in my sketchbook, listening to Mariah Carey, and trying not to cry as midnight hit. All I could think about was all the couples in love and kissing right at that moment, and I was alone. Where were you?”
“Scout.” He sighed. I took an exit to turn onto the highway and sped up to match the other drivers.
“Scout!” Desi screamed and threw his arms over my body as suddenly something collided with my side of the car.
The grinding of metal against metal and the sound of glass breaking shattered my ear drums. I clutched the wheel as we rolled one, two, three times. We went down into a ditch, landing on the driver’s side. Steam rose from the vehicle, along with the hiss of something coming from the hood. I blinked and only saw white. Snow and broken glass fell all around me. My head was dizzy. I tried to lift it, but everything felt heavy, so heavy.
“Scout! Scout!” Desi’s voice was panicked and distant. Had he managed to escape the carnage? I closed my eyes and let the blackness engulf me. If one of us had to be hurt beyond repair, I was glad it was me that had taken the brunt of the collision.
I couldn’t survive if he didn’t.
