I struggled for the buckle on my seat it didn't seem to want to unbuckle. I felt the desire to inhale burn my lungs. I finally got the buckle undone and swam through the broken windshield towards the surface. Then something crashed into the water heading towards me. I couldn't swim out of the way fast enough and it hit him in the back of the head. I closed my eyes and opened them to see my body floating away in the river, but before I could figure out what was happening the scene changed. I was standing in what looked to be a court room and it was even complete with nine people seeming to be judges. I stood there and one of the nine judge looking people said, Gabriel Derson your life is currently ending and you have been selected to be given a chance to redeem your grievances during your life do you accept? I looked at him dumbstruck, but the judge looked like this has happened millions of times before. I finally shook off my speechlessness and asked, what? The judge said, your life Gabriel is ending because your drowning in the river and since you have committed transgressions in your life you stand to either go to the field of permanent misery or the bowels of hell, but we have decided to give you a chance to erase your grievances by letting you serve as a reaper, do you accept our offer Gabriel? I returned back to the shocked silence and thought about this for a second. I wondered if I was just having a really bad dream or if this is real should I accept the offer. After a couple more minutes I looked at the judges and said, I accept your offer. The contract appeared in front of him and the judge said, just press your thumb on the contract to bind your soul to it. I pressed my thumb against the paper floating in front of me and the I felt something tingle on my chest. I looked down and when I looked back up at the judges it was as if he was being bungee corded away. As everything zoomed out of focus I closed my eyes. When I opened them I rolled to the side vomited the water out of my lungs. I looked around to find I was laying on the coast of the river with paramedics surrounding me. Then I laid my head back and took deep breathes. I tried to remember what had happened to me, but I couldn't remember anything after the tremor on the bridge. I tried to squeeze the words out of my throat, but managed only in whispering tremor and went into a fit of coughing. The paramedic looked down at me and turned me on my side to make sure I get all of the water out of my lungs. Once the coughing stopped I managed to ask, what happened? The paramedic said, your lucky to be alive you and a couple of other people were driven off the bridge. You were one of the only survivors. I looked at the man and tried to sit up, but my head felt as if it were going to explode. The paramedic said, slowly you got knocked in the back of the head and you might have a concussion. So I laid back down so they could lift me into a chopper.
I don't really remember much about the ride to the hospital besides the noise. When we landed some nurses were waiting to take me somewhere into the hospital. I tried to focus on what was pasting by me, but all I heard buzzing and saw the lights I passed under. Someone flashed a light in me eye and I flinched from the brightness. Then they put me in an observation area and it felt as if I'd been laying there for a very long time. Then a doctor walked in to talk with me. He looked up from the chart in his hand and said, son you're either one tough nut to crack or you're one lucky son of a bitch. I looked at him and tried to give him a cocky grin, but could only manage a grimace. He crossed the room and said, tilt your head forward. I did as he said and looked down at my lap. I clenched my teeth through the pain that spread from wherever he touched my head. He said, I got some good news and bad news which do you want first? I laughed like it wasn't even a question and said, bad news, please. Well you'll have to see my ugly mug more often than you'd like for the next couple months and you'll probably never be able to get a crew cut again. I scoffed and then he said, well the good news it doesn't look too bad and can fix it up with a couple stitches and send you on your way with a couple prescription painkillers in your pocket, just don't go getting addicted now you hear? I looked up at him and said with an attempt at a smirk, what they aren't tic tac's, guess it explains why my breath never smelled better after. The doctor shook his head and said over his shoulder, a nurse will be back to stitch that up and give you some painkillers later. I asked, um how do I dial out, I need to call a ride since my car doesn't seem to be running currently. He said, dial nine and type the number. I thanked him as he left the room and grabbed the receiver and dial Cooper's number. He answered immediately and started hammering with questions I held it away from my head and when the thing stopped vibrating I brought it back and said, I'm okay doc says I've just got a nasty bump on the back of my head and said I'm free to go. So can you come pick me up. Cooper paused and then sighed saying, yeah sure I'll head that way which hospital are you? At I looked around and said, actually I don't really know I was really delirious and it was all a blur. Cooper said, okay I'll just call back after you hang up so I can ask. I said, thanks Scrimble, see you soon. With that I hung up and leaned back against the bed frame and waited for the nurse.