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Story Title: Tailspin
As the car skidded off the road and hurtled towards the telegraph pole I felt strangely calm. "So..." I thought. "This is how it ends. After all. After everything. This is it. This is how it ends."
I had been wondering how it would end.
It occurred to me that perhaps I should be frightened. Fearful. Upset.
I was not.
What I actually felt was resigned. Relieved, even. No more secrets. No more hiding. No more fighting. Just this. Just... this.
And I was glad.
Glad because the truth was I didn't know how I could go on, anyway. Not that I meant to drive off the road.
I didn't.
But had I known when this all began what I know now... let's just say I would do things differently.
Perhaps I should introduce myself.
My name is Mark. I live in a one bedroom flat in the middle of Sydney. I live alone, now. I used to live with a woman but I'll get back to that later. I am reasonably presentable, not bad looking and when it comes down to it I'm not too badly off. I have no family left.
I work in the stock exchange and I cheat. I lie. I am not really a very good man, I used to be but all that changed when my parents were arrested last year for kidnapping a young woman in her twenties. I will never know what possesed them to do that, it ruined their life and mine and everyone that knew them.
I mean for God's sake they were a typical middle aged couple whose only child had done well for himself.
Well actually none of that is true as I always fall asleep when the fat man starts talking, and of course I make up stuff in my head to avoid waking up.
The fat man was very disgusting - he would eat on average 5 pies a day, and we are not talking mince, these were the full bacon and egg ones, and the filling would always be down the front of his shirt.
Probably the worst bit of the fat man was the sweat rings under his arms - huge circles and yellowish moist pungent stink - the type of sweat that deodorant can't fix, the type of sweat that just eeks out of the body from eating too many pies.
The fat man was unfortunately my boss and I would sit in his meetings each day trying to escape mentally. Cinderalla however would gaze wonderingly at the fat man with her big blue deep as a pond eyes. I was convinced that the fat man was sleeping with her - such is the irony of the world... Now that was a nasty vision in my head, very nasty indeed.
"Mark", "Mark" the fat man...
He was yelling at me ! I have to get a new job this man is driving me insane.
No Hang on, I'm lying in the middle of the road and my life is flashing before me, they do say that's what happens when you are about to die, these are all parts of my life getting jumbled up inside my brain which must be just about to stop working.
Oh God please help me, I must not let the light go out, I have changed my mind I don't want to die anymore, I can put things right, I can, I will, I must. It can't end like this, what's that I can hear, sirens? yes help is on the way, Thank you God, I will be good in future I won't cheat or lie anymore. I hope to God that is true, just give me one more chance I promise- I will try.
Now what? Where did the noise go? Was it a siren?
OK. Stay calm. Don't panic. Isn't that what they say in the movies? In the movies when they rescue people, just like this. And don't fall asleep. Is that right? Stay awake, stay awake...
Or am I already asleep?
They are coming, right? That was a siren I heard, right?
OK focus. Focus. Assess the damage. Wiggle toes.
Nothing.
Wiggle fingers. Nothing.
Legs. Nothing.
Eyes open. OPEN. Oh God, GOD! Where are they? Where are they?
Stay calm. Think. Where am I? Where was I going? Where have I been? Think... THINK!
Rosie. I just saw Rosie... Just left her place.
Someone was pulling me. " Stay calm young man we're here to help you. " Can you wriggle your toes please" What the hell was going on I just did that didn't I? Were there really people here helping me or was this a dream?
" No responce! We can't move him until the rescue squad arrive. Make him as comfortable as possible and stay with him, here put this blanket over him"
I was hearing all this and thinking of Rosie. She is such a sweet thing, why did she leave me? What did she say as she left, was it really drop dead? Did she really mean that? Is that why I'm here?
Oh God the pain was beginning to seap through my body.
"Can you hear me?" I tried to respond. " We have a strong heart beat I think if we can get him out we might be alright"
We might be alright, what about me? I'm the one lying hear!
The voices came in and out of my focus as my mind drifted from past to present, from present to past. The two blurred into one, and at times I was unaware of the flashing lights, the rescuers and their urgent voices, the tangled wreck which encased me, the immovable mass which must have been the steering wheel embedded in my thighs.
First time I saw her. Right after the trial. The whole country watched as mum and dad - sentenced -
Searing pain. No...
Sitting on Jack's couch. Empty shot glass in my hand. Taste of Frangelico in my mouth. Traces of white powder on the table before me. Teeth numb. Mind numb. Yeah.
Voices from outside. "Are you awake, mate? We're about to cut you free. It's going to be loud. Don't be concerned." Something covered my face. Blanket maybe. Towel. Something.
Jack's voice - "You awake, mate? I want you to meet my fiance, Rosie."
Her voice is like velvet. "You look like a man who could use a cigarette."
Yes that's what I want That will do fine give me one NOW!! "It's ok mate hang on wont be long now." Time is a funny thing isn't it one minute I'm having this nightmare the next I'm lying in a warm bed covered in blankets with a very pretting young thing looking at me with concern in her eyes asking me " How are you feeling?" Well I don't know how I'm feeling actually because I don't know where I am or what has happened to me.
Then there was a man in a white coat prodding me and asking the same thing. Ok I must be in a hospital, out of the car and in hospital, what did I promice God in my fear? I was going to be good from here on in OK thats what I'm going to be. I tried to speak but apparently nothing came out because they didnt take any notice of me. They both looked worried this man and this pretty women, they shook their heads and said
"Oh God. He can't speak." gasped the woman in horror. The man gripped the woman's hand tightly. I only stared with glazed eyes, feeling utterly confused.
Where the hell am I? I wondered. Sure, I knew I was in a hospital, but where?
"Don't worry too much, it's probably just some after shock. We'll wait a few days and see how he's doing." said the man in the white coat.
The woman took my hand. It felt nice, her hand was nice and cool... Like... A breeze before a storm, making sure you get some comfort before the mayhem. It was rather soothing, until...
"...Rosie. We need to go."
"Jack, I can't leave him like this..! I got angry at him, told him to drop dead and now look what happened... It's my fault, and I need to stay here."
Rosie? Jack?
I blinked, frantically moving my eyes. It was Rosie!
"Jack! Look!"
"Doctor, he's moving!"
"Oh My God!" I think he's a ZOMBIE!
"BRAAAAAINS!" he shouted...
Ryan proceeded to swat the hideous creature with a metal spatula he found on the kitchen counter. The zombie seemed oblivious to his attempts at freedom and stretched out its gnarled fingernails, ready to scratch Ryan and transform him into an undead monster. But he was determined that somehow he would find a way to escape. Then he eyed something on the windowsill.
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