Trapped
he freezing temperature sends a chill thru my bones. I wonder why I decided to go hiking by T myself this weekend. I want a distraction to take my mind off Sam, she has packed up and left without warning just walked right out of my life with no explanation. I know it’s the new coworker. I thought everything was fine, we fell into our usual routine then, she wakes up one morning with the lame excuse, “We need some time apart.” Packs up her things and leaves.
I often reflect on our relationship trying to understand what went wrong. I work a lot of overtime but that don't mean I didn't care; it just means I want a little more in the world than a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in.
Is that so wrong? I drive along the desolate country road that will soon lead to a cabin that I rented out in the middle of nowhere. That was where I wanted to be, alone with my thoughts. Maybe I can understand what happen 1
to my relationship if I have some time to slow down and think. I’m traveling too fast when I enter a hairpin curve, I panic and step on the brakes, the car goes into a skid. It’s completely out of control, like a magical force has command of the vehicle. The car slides sideways almost hitting a tree then jumping a ditch and slamming into a steep ravine, striking a large rock sending it into a roll. The car rolls and tumbles down a crater. My heart sticks in my throat. I hear a primitive scream escape from my lips, sounding like a wounded animal. My head spins, my hands grip the steering wheel trying to keep my body erect in my seat. I’m sure this is the end, my body tenses as the car plummets down the mountain. I hit my head on the steering wheel, my eyes record the horror as the car careens over the final cliff everything goes dark.
When I awake, I am in total darkness, I try to orient myself. I’m hanging upside down like a bat, looking at the top of the roof caved in inches from my head. I scrunch lower trying not to hit my bleeding head, intense pain consumes my body. I look at my arms scratches and bruises, dried blood crusting on them. The windshield of the car cracked and broken, the night dark. I am alone and cold. I wonder how long I’ve been unconscious. I see a distance light in the valley, I reach for the car horn but when I move, an intense aching pulse through my leg, it refuses to move. I look up, my leg is dangling over my head it looks like it belongs to someone else, mangled, twisted around the wrong way like an old broken doll.
The car is in ruins. I take a deep breath and once more reach for the car horn, closing my eyes struggling with the pain. Feeling its cold surface as my hand makes contact, I press as hard as I can. I hear a glorious blare in 2
the night, a foghorn announcing its warning. The deep bassy sound penetrates the silence of the night, I hope and pray that someone hears it. I need help, maybe someone will pass by and hear the car horn, maybe the person that has the light on below will come up the mountain to see what all the commotion is. I reach for the round switch on the panel the deformed dash is less than a foot away pushed forward closing the space around me. I feel trapped in the small confines of the driver seat; I pull the lever for the headlight switch. I am excited that it works, I see the lights flash, the brightness piercing the night someone must find me before I freeze.
My hands and feet are numb they hurt when I try to move them, an intense pain pulses thru my body, the subzero temperature freezing me alive. I'm going to die here alone on the side of this mountain. I wonder how long it will take for someone to find me. I grab my seat belt which detains me in an upside-down position in the mangled vehicle, my arms ache in protest as I grab the tiny metal buckle on the seat belt. I push the square in the center as firmly as I can, but it won’t disengage. The car is holding me hostage, I can't escape. I feel my head pounding thunk, thunk with each beat of my heart the ache become more intense. Dizzy from hanging upside down, all the pressure from the blood in my body gathering in my brain and pounding forcefully trying to escape. My head aches, I see black dots all around, my world goes dark.
I open my eyes to new surroundings, but, where am I?
I look around taking in the room, there are windows of stain glass a pulpit with a large cross behind it, I wonder where I'm at? Maybe I’m dead, the room appears to be a church or synagogue. I try to turn so I can see but the 3
tiny cot that my mangled body rest upon protest with creaking, it is a frail cot it looks like something a child uses at camp. A shooting pain punishes me for my movement, a throbbing in my left leg. I look down, my leg is set and wrapped with torn towels and sheets between two sticks made from tree limbs, looks like a makeshift brace attached to my leg. The bulky primitive brace supplies no relief from the pain, I focus on my foot trying to wiggle my toes on the broken left leg. I am amazed that they move but the pain between my toes and brain make me cry out in pain which brings a man with unkempt hair, dark sunken eyes a sinewy face and a long black robe to my side.
“I wouldn’t try that if I was you. Just lay still and try to relax. You've had quite a spill.”
I look at the man’s lined face, he has big bright blue eyes with a crazed look. The wild unkempt hair and the big bug eyes makes me feel uncomfortable, how I wish I was at a medical facility.
“Who are you and where am I at?” I demand.
“I am father Peter Costello, but you may call me Peter.” He says with an Irish accent.
“Where am I at?”
“I heard the commotion and saw your lights on the side of the mountain. You’re quite a lucky man that I found you. It was a good move to honk your horn, it got my attention. When I saw your lights on the side of the mountain, I knew it couldn't be good. So, I decided to go check on you. I got you out of the car and brought you back to the Monastery. I do hope you will soon be well enough to be on your way mate,” he says.
“I sure hope so. Why don't we call the local police or EMS and get me an ambulance to transport me to a 4
hospital?” I inquire.
“I'm afraid that is not possible as we don't have phone service out here. I appreciate your situation and quite frankly no one is allowed on the grounds except for the keeper. Church rules. You’ve put me in a precarious position you'll have to spend the night here. I'll make a phone call on your behalf tomorrow when I go into town. Perhaps when you awake tomorrow you will feel well enough to ride with me, but that is unlikely due to your broken leg. I'm sure you'll need an ambulance to take you into town to get that fixed. I did the best I could at patching you up ole boy, but I don't have the equipment that is needed to set that limb properly. If you will just relax here for the night, I'm sure I can get you some help in the morning. I wouldn't dare venture out tonight with the sleet and freezing rain that's probably what did you in.”
I grit my teeth, “did you happen to find my cell phone in the wreckage? It could be as simple as dialing a number and requesting an ambulance.”
“There are no cell towers on the mountain. There is no signal that you could possibly receive out here.” He says arrogantly.
“Very well do you happen to have something for pain?
I don't think I can get through the night with this intense pain.”
“Sorry sir. This is a monastery not a bar, the best I can do is an herbal tea perhaps that will sooth your salvage beast.”
I’m startled by a loud BANG in the night, it sounds as if a sledgehammer is pounding on the very foundation of the building, “What on earth is that?” I gasp.
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