Chapter Three; Things Fall Apart
1060 Words
Joe's POV.
I struggled to my car after a one-night stand with a stranger.
One minute I was arguing with my girlfriend Vanessa, and the next I was having s*x with someone I barely knew.
My heart bleeds because I know I made a mistake.
The s*x could have been avoided, but I let my emotions get the better of me.
My mother called as I was about to get in the car.
I was initially hesitant to answer the phone because I knew exactly what she wanted to discuss.
It was not a coincidence that she called just minutes after Vanessa stormed out of the clubhouse following a fight between us.
On second thought, I considered how important it would be for my mother to continue calling my phone for an hour.
I reluctantly accepted the call. “Hello, mum. How are you doing?”
To avoid my mother's suspicion, I tried to speak in my usual tone of voice.
“So, Joe, where are you?
It is 11 p.m., and you are still not home?” My mother questioned me as my situation worsened.
“I am at Vanessa's, Mum. The night would be spent there. You can call her if you are not sure about me,” I said.
To save my ass, I lied.
I knew my mother would not waste time phoning Vanessa to find out the truth.
“That will not be required because I have already done it.” When my mother revealed something startling, I stammered.
“You did, I see.
So what now?" I asked.
Without really realizing it, I just shot myself in the legs.
I gripped the phone, my hands shaking.
There came a moment when I almost dropped the phone.
“Guess what she said when I called her? She is not with you.
I am going to make one final request of you, Joe.
How come you are not here?” I was frightened by my mother yelling at me.
My secret had been revealed. I abruptly ended the call to avoid more embarrassment.
“You wicked b***h, Nessa.
I will deal with you,” I said, hitting the steering wheel in annoyance. I had a lot of perspiration under the air conditioner.
I tried calling Vanessa right away, but she was not answering. .
Despite calling her a thousand times, I never got a response.
She was obviously aware of my reason for calling, so I was not shocked when she refused to answer.
Having allowed Vanessa to ruin my life, I felt angry and let down by myself.
Firstly, she irritated me enough to have a one-night stand with an unknown individual.
Even though she knew it was harmful, she still made a fuss between my mum and me, as if that were not enough.
I started the car and drove straight to Vanessa's flat at the fastest speed possible during my angry outbursts.
I was prepared to break up with her without thinking about how it would affect my mother.
Vanessa contacted me halfway through her estate.
When my Joy realized she was the one on the phone, she became uncontrollable.
I needed someone to vent my rage on, and she was able to call at the perfect moment.
“You told my mother what?” Increasing my speed was precisely what I needed to do.
“Really? Is that the reason you keep calling my phone? Son of a b***h, get off my phone.” Vanessa growled and hung up.
My blood pressure shot up sharply instantly.
My anger consumed me, and I failed to notice the truck parked in front of me.
A blackout occurred before I could regain my equilibrium.
I experienced a complete blackout.
I saw myself lying in a hospital bed a short while later, with bandages covering the majority of my body.
I noticed my legs were swollen after having a quick look at them.
They abruptly turned into vegetables when I lost the ability to feel them.
It was difficult for me to remember how I ended up in the hospital.
Attempts to rack my head were met with migraines.
I had been left alone in the ward until a doctor and a few nurses entered.
“What happened, doctor? In what way did I arrive here?” In a quiet voice, I asked.
I could not speak clearly because of the sharp pains in my back.
“You have now emerged from your coma. That is fantastic.”
The Doctor commented, “We were afraid you would not survive.”
As if he had won the lottery, he appeared much happier.
“Coma?
Doctor, I am not sure if I understand. What is happening precisely?
Was I involved in an accident?” I inquired out of curiosity.
“Yes, I am afraid.
That was a bad one.” He nods in response.
“According to an eyewitness, you collided with a truck parked by the road.
You would have died if you had not rushed in right away.” The Doctor revealed.
While he explained, I took some time to reflect on the past, and it occurred to me that he was correct.
I remembered colliding with a truck following a heated argument with Vanessa.
I was weak but capable of holding back my tears.
I did not want the nurses to consider me a weakling.
“I will be fine, right?
Is there no complicating factor?
Because I am eager to return to my workplace,” I inquired of the Doctor.
However, his facial expressions completely shattered my heart.
He had not said anything yet, but I was already harbouring a negative thought in my heart.
“Dr., please speak with me.
Is there an issue?” I freaked out.
My guts let me down.
I was terrified that the worst was going to happen.
“Sir, I am sorry.
We have an issue.”
My eyes welled up with tears, and I inquired of the doctor. “Does that imply…?”
I took a break.
I was not brave enough to admit it.
“Yes, Sir.
Your legs were badly damaged.
You will be confined to a wheelchair for nearly every day of your life,” the Doctor revealed.
I close my eyes, hoping that when I reopen them, everything will be a dream.
- Writer
