Ella
Several thoughts flooded my head as I drove through traffic in my dad's old rusty Pontiac. I adjusted the rearview mirror and squinted my eyes as I looked closely at my reflection. My eyes were really tired from lack of sleep.
My father was the breadwinner of the family of eight until a few years ago when he was involved in an accident that sprained his left leg. With that disability, he couldn't get another job as a truck driver because that was what he knew when it came to jobs.
On the other hand, my mother had to work two jobs just so we could afford the basics.
I have two older brothers who do not live in New York City with us. Vincent, the first son, was in the army and we haven't heard from him in a long time. Daniel couldn't fit into the shoes and so he always felt like a disappointment which made him leave too. Last I heard, he works in the mailroom of one of the big corporations in Chicago.
As the eldest daughter, I was expected to be resilient at a tender age. At twenty years old, I have been working part-time at a local cafe to support my family for the past three years. There was a weight of responsibility on my shoulders.
But here on the road, I felt free from those responsibilities and the chaos at home. After school today, I had to go back to work and life must continue.
Then I thought of Jake.
My relationship with him has not been that rosy as he was constantly clingy. I won't lie that he's been there for me for the past two years we've been together. At some point, he started contributing towards my tuition fees.
We met when we were working together at the cafe. That was when we realized that we were also classmates. He'd deliberately resigned from his job there because the management had a policy that staff members couldn't be in a relationship. So when he resigned and asked me out on a date, I didn't hesitate one bit before saying yes to him.
Why shouldn't I?
He was the most handsome gentleman I'd ever seen. He had this chiseled shape that could make any girl's heart skip and one of the sexiest piercing blue eyes too. I could see how other ladies looked at him, but then again, he chose me.
I was barely 18 at the time.
My phone was buzzing as I got to the next intersection. I slowed down. After all, I couldn't run the yellow light because I knew my dad's old Pontiac wasn't reliable.
The crash was unexpected as I jolted forward. A feeling of pain enveloped me as I stepped out to assess the damage done to my dad's car.
"Are you blind?" I screamed as I came to the rear of the Pontiac. Thankfully, it was just a dent while a part of the trunk was scraped.
"Are you okay?" a black middle-aged man said as he came out from the driver's seat of an Audi A8 sedan. He had a kind face that softened my countenance.
"I am, but what were you thinking?" I screamed, "It could've been worse if I was in motion."
"I apologize for the damage, young lady," he said as he assessed the damage too. Few commuters came around to see what had happened. "It's alright guys. No one's hurt," he said to them.
Then he went into the car and soon returned with two cards which he handed over to me.
"Take these," he said, "Call the insurance company and let them handle this. I'm on an assignment."
"Thanks," I said to my benefactor, "what about the other card?"
"If you have any other concerns, call the other number," he said as he got into his car, "Are you sure you're okay?"
I nodded and waved at him as he drove by. I soon reentered the Pontiac and filed the cards in my purse. I had to write the quiz or even get to work before I could think of calling any insurance company.
I looked at my phone and it saw 7 missed calls from Jake. I was in for a question-answer session today but that didn't bother me the way the quiz bothered me.
As I turned the ignition, the car coughed and went dead. The next try was more abortive.
The Pontiac needed two people to start and I couldn't see any Good Samaritan on the highway who could be of help to me.
I picked up my backpack, locked the car, and contemplated what to do next.
The day had started on a bad note. Could it get any worse than this?
***
"What were you thinking?" Jake said when he saw me after the quiz.
I just handed him his assignment book. I had bigger fish to fry and arguing with him was not one of them. I was just grateful the quiz was canceled. I'd hiked a ride for the rest of my journey to school, all for nothing.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jake squinted his eyes as he collected his book, "you look bashed."
Why won't I when I did practically all his school work and mine? It wasn't this when we started. He usually came over to my place for assignments and studies. My room wasn't that cozy but we'd make out on the floor so no one would hear the bed squeak.
But then everything changed again.
"Jake, I don't have time for this," I said as I rubbed my temples. I felt a bad headache coming and I reached out inside my bag to pull out one tablet of aspirin.
"You're not feeling too well," Jake said as he touched my temples, "come let me take you home."
I relished the thought of him touching my body. When was the last time he did it? But then I quickly remembered my dad's Pontiac.
"I can't go home now," I said, "Take me to the intersection between 5th and 6th Avenue. Someone bashed my dad's car and it refused to start."
"Why would you go out with that rickety car?" Jake mocked me as we walked to his car, "Next time, call me to come pick you up."
"Please don't," I stopped to rub my temples. Hearing him talk made the headache worse.
"Don't what?" Jake quipped.
"Just don't start?" I said again. "When was the last time you visited my house or picked me up or even dropped me off after work, huh?"
"But I'm al…" his words flying in defense.
"Always busy, yeah," I completed the sentence for him, "I've always heard that time and time again. What do you do? You've not been able to tell me in the past year."
"Don't go there," Jake warned.
People were already staring at us.
"Get in the car," Jake commanded. I quickly obeyed without any comment.
We drove in silence for a while and then I opened my purse and pulled out the insurance company's card the gentleman had given to me. I thought about the driver who hit me and I was thankful for his help. But then I needed a tow truck first.
We were almost at the intersection and there was traffic up ahead. That seemed strange though I was glad we were gaining mileage by the minute.
It was when I brought out my phone to call my dad's friend who was a tow truck driver, that I saw it.
Then, my father's call came in.
Immediately reality hit me, and I lost consciousness.