“Scarlett, you need to talk to me,” I urge. She’s practically gasping for air now, her chest heaving. “Tell me that you can do that.”
“I can do that,” she says through a cry. I pull my phone from my back pocket and put it into her hands, clasping my hand around it to make sure she’s got a hold of it. Her hands are shaking too much. I wipe the tears that have fallen down her face only for more to fall. I can’t help it, so I press her to my chest again and kiss her on the forehead as she stands lifelessly in my arms. She pulls away from me and she walks back towards the car.
I hope for both of our sakes she doesn’t turn back.
A few cars have started diverting his body, yet no one tries to get out and help him. I walk over to him, my shoes squelching in the rain. I’m not good with blood. Not at all. But Scarlett would not be able to handle this. Not when he’s this hurt and in the middle of the road. When I get closer, I notice the huge gash at the side of his face as his whole body trembles. I shudder.
“Can somebody help me get him out of the road!?” I shout to anyone. For anyone to help. Nobody responds. It’s even quieter now. Only the sound of the rain and the gurgling coming from Gio. How could someone do this? Just hit someone and speed off. And more importantly, why?
I hold my breath as I slip my hand under his neck, feeling the soft flesh there. The whole right side of his face is covered in blood from where he landed. His leg is twisted outwards, and his mouth is full of blood, his eyes rolling back in his head.
“Gio? It’s Evan. Can you feel anything?” I ask, patting down his arms and across his torso. It’s faint and weak, but he shakes his head. I take off my shirt with one hand. It’s already soaked through but, I need to do something to stop the blood coming out of his head. I wring it out, folding it over four times before pressing it to his head. I ease him off my lap to undo my belt, wrapping around the side of his face. I know it looks painful, but it’s the best I can do.
“I’m going to take you out of the road and get an ambulance so stay with me, okay?”
His mouth opens and closes like he’s trying to speak but nothing comes out. He coughs, tilting his head away from me as he spits blood onto the street. I close my eyes for a second, trying my best to be brave.
“Sca,” he garbles.
“She’s behind the car. She’s safe. We’re going to get you help, okay?” I try my best to seem convincing as I try to stand. I try to look around the empty street, hoping someone will appear. I see a middle-aged man closing down a florist and I sigh. “Hey! I need some help over here!”
He turns around and his face drops. We don’t have time for this. I know how bad this looks. I cansmellhow bad this is. I don’t need someone who’s going to throw up or scream. If Scarlett hears anyone else's reaction, she’s going to freak out even more. We need to get Gio somewhere that isn’t in the middle of the road, and he needs medical attention as soon as possible.
“Jesus, what happened?” the guy asks, rushing over. He’s dressed in a puffer jacket, and he immediately zips it down, pulling it off. He stops still, looking down at us and I glare. Now is not the time for questions, bud. “Nevermind. Where are you trying to go?”
I tilt my head towards the alleyway where Scarlett’s parked. Jheez, I hope she’s okay. “You see that car there?” I ask. The guy nods. “Just help me get him there and then stay on lookout for an ambulance. One should be coming soon.”
The guy doesn’t say anything as he helps me get Gio to his feet. He’s not really walking as much, as he’s hovering as we use our strength to keep him up. I feel bad that I’ve dragged him into the middle of this, but there was no way I’d be able to drag him across the street on my own. Gio’s head lolls to the side as we take each of his arms over our shoulders. This is bad. Like reallyreallybad.
We manage to get him to the side of the car that Scarlett isn’t on and he’s groaning now. At least there's a sign he’s still with us. What the fuck do I do now? The guy drops his coat over Gio, trying his best to keep him warm. I would thank him if I could think properly, but I can’t. The guy kneels beside me, trying to look at Gio’s face, but there’s not much to look at anymore. It’s covered in blood.
Just so much blood.
“You’re doing everything you can, kid,” the guy says, patting me on the shoulder. If I had the energy in me, I’d tell him to do something more. Say something other than that. Gio’s head wobbles in my lap and I pull my knees in, trying to elevate his head. The guy points down to the end of the alleyway where the rain is slowing. “I’ll wait there for the ambulance.”
I close my eyes for a second, leaning my head against the brick wall, trying to breathe. Trying to be strong. This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. I told my dad the minute something puts us in danger, I’m out.
“Ev… Your shirt…” I hear her mumble. I look up and Scarlett’s standing over us, staring right at her uncle’s weak body. She’s not sobbing anymore, which is good. She’s had time to calm herself down. She’s gasping, though, holding her hand to her chest. My once white shirt is still wrapped around his head, soaked through with blood. I ignore her, pressing my shirt onto the side of his head.
I don’t think I’m doing enough.
I need to do more.
“Didn’t I tell you to wait by the side of the car?” I ask, frustrated. She gulps, not responding. “How long until the ambulance comes?”
“Any minute now,” she whispers. She kneels down, trying to look at him, but I can tell it’s paining her. Fuck, she’s going to have nightmares about this for weeks. I know I will. I tried to protect her from that as much as I could. She presses her hands to the side of his neck. “Have you checked his pulse? My hands are still shaking.”
I gently move her hands away from him, placing them in her lap. Instead, I press two fingers onto his wrist, and it takes a while for me to feel something. “It’s weak, Scar.”
“Are you sure you’re doing it right?” she asks, gently pulling his arm into her lap and she tries to feel for it. She probably comes to the same realisation that I do. “No. No. No. He’s not gone yet. He can’t be.”
“Scarlett,” I say quietly. That's all I can say. I gently try to pry her hands off of him, but she won’t budge. She must have realised what I did. He’s not got long left.
“No, Evan,” she shouts at me. “No,” she says again, quieter. She pulls Gio’s face into her hands and I have to look away, not able to stomach the large gash at the side of his head, but I still press my shirt to it. “Come on, G. Stay with me, okay? I can't lose you too. Stay with me. Please.”
She tries to wipe the blood out of his face, but I can tell that part of it disgusts her. I silently tell her to stop. I clasp both of her hands in mine, holding them tight as she cries hard on my shoulder. I press a kiss to the top of her head.
“I’m here, Angel. I’m here,” I whisper over and over again until three heartbeats slowly fade to two.
