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I yawn slightly, tired from my night. My body is sore in places it hasn’t been for a very long time. I smile at myself. Last night was magical. Like my own Cinderella dream ball. Except my Prince Charming did ungodly things to me that already has my core thrumming for him to do it all again.
I bite my lip as I think about his lips on my skin. My cheeks heat and my body feels warm, even though the wind is whipping up and the sun is now behind a dark cloud. I continue to feel around the roof cavity, my arm elbow deep in sludge, hoping I don’t get bitten by a spider or worse as I continue to daydream.
“Yes!” I shout aloud to the empty garden below as my hand lands on a small hole. It is big enough to take my hand and I feel pride in myself for finding it. Quickly, I turn to grab the tools I brought up on the roof with me, some that I borrowed from my neighbor earlier in the week in preparation, and I think about how I will close it up. But as I try to wriggle my hand out of the hole to grab the spare materials, my hand doesn’t move. I twist and pull, and as I do, my feet slip slightly on the tin, my body jolting to keep balance. The force of my movement rips my hand out from the hole in the tin roof and it slices my palm, straight down the middle.
“Ahhh!” I scream, grabbing my hand losing my balance, falling from the roof. Panic fills my bones, the air leaves my lungs, and I throw out my good hand to grip onto something. Anything!
I manage to hold on to the gutter, as my body flings over the edge of my house, and I hang limply, my body dangling for exactly two seconds before my weight is too much for my grip and I let go. I thank my lucky stars for the large flower bush that catches me, softening my fall before I hit the ground hard and my butt lands in the muddy grass. No doubt my skin will be bruised for days if the pain radiating through my hip is any indication.
I sit for a moment to gather myself, the shock causing me to fill with adrenaline, but I know that I need to keep a level head. There is no one home but me. I take some deep breaths and will the tears to stay away, because that could have ended much worse. I wiggle my toes and bend my knees, finding that nothing is sore or broken until I look at my hand, covered in red, the blood freely flowing down my wrist.
With Dad at the center with Larry, I have no idea who to call. It doesn’t feel like an emergency for the paramedics, but I don’t have a car and the buses only run every hour on Sundays. I sit and think as the blood starts to coat my forearm and I wiggle my toes again to ensure that I can stand. With my hand feeling numb and mentally blocking out any pain I feel in my body, I get up and walk a few steps toward the front door before my vision starts to go blurry and I need to sit again.
My heart rate is increasing because I can feel raindrops start to fall. I limit my risk of any more injuries by shuffling on my knees, and slowly make my way across the lawn to the front footpath to the front door, where I left my keys and cell phone.
My clothes are filthy, my knees now hurt, my hip is throbbing, and the pain in my palm is so intense that I feel like it is on fire. It looks like it is with the blood that is pouring from it, so I hold it upright, praying for the bleeding to stop. It slows a little, and I thank the heavens and looking up to the clouds, I think of my mother. Who I know would be scolding me from above.
Gritting my teeth, I lean over awkwardly and pick up my cell, calling the only person who I know who has a car and may be available.
Tom, my driver.
With luck, he is nearby, and within twenty minutes, I see him pulling onto my street. I watch as the car comes to a stop at the front of my house and he dashes out as quick as a flash, running down the path toward me.
“Beth! What happened?” he asks in a rush, his face panic stricken, and I look down at myself, realizing how much of a mess I am.
“Nothing. Just a little accident. Do you think you can run me to the hospital? It is just fifteen minutes away.” I feel foolish, but I slap on my big wide smile, gritting my teeth behind the facade.
“Come on. Let’s go,” Tom says as he leans over and helps me up, grabbing my good elbow and escorting me slowly to the car. He holds the door open as I slide into the soft black leather seats and let out the breath I was holding. Keeping my hand elevated and wrapped in my jumper, the trip takes no time at all because Tom drives like a madman, and as we pull up to the ER department, I get myself out.
“Thanks, Tom. I really appreciate it. Sorry for calling you on the weekend.”
“Wait, let me take you in.” He’s out of the car in the next second, running around to help me walk in.
“No, no, I’m fine. I’m practically a regular here. Please go back to your family, enjoy the rest of the day,” I say, brushing his help away, feeling guilty that I had to call him at all, even though the black dots continue blocking my vision as I try to walk into the ER. Tom doesn’t listen to me. He walks me all the way in until I get to the counter, and then steps back, giving me privacy.
“Oh, Beth, what have you done now?” Mary, the ER nurse, says to me, because whether he believed me or not, I am a regular here and have been for years. If they had a loyalty program, then I would be their number one ticket holder.
“Just a little cut, Mary, nothing too serious, but I might need some stitches,” I reply, not wanting her to worry either, even though my palm is burning, and I feel lightheaded. I know they deal with a lot here, and I feel bad for being yet another person on their very long list today.
“Here, let me wrap it a little to keep it clean because it will be a wait until the doctors are free today, I’m afraid,” Mary says, and I am glad to have a friendly face.
“Thanks, Mary,” I sigh, exhausted from the entire ordeal already.
“How did you do this?” she asks as she wraps it quickly, noticing the line of people now behind me.
“I cut it on the roof.”
“Do I even want to know?” she asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
“I was just trying to fix a leak.”
“A leak? Beth, you can’t do everything. Haven’t we told you this before? There are some things that professionals need to do, and I would suggest that getting on top of a house is one of them!” she scolds me and I nod to her quietly.
“Have a seat, sweetheart. We will be with you when we can. Do you want some water? A blanket?”
“No. I’m fine. Really, it's just a scratch.” I offer her a small, reassuring smile. Even though I am parched and cold, I don't want them wasting their resources on me. Mary pats my hand knowingly, and I move out of the way so she can attend other patients.
Turning around, I notice Tom still here, and he watches me as he pockets his cell phone.
