Chapter Text
It’s officially 7 PM. I don’t usually go out this late. The sun has set, and the sky is now a dark, endearing blue.
I love blue hour. However, it’s probably best if I start getting home soon, I told myself.
The crisp breeze hits my face, causing my nose to go slightly numb. I bunch my fingers into a small fist and exhale warm breath on them in an attempt to warm up. It’s now December, and nights are as cold as ever.
I take out my phone to see how many steps I’ve taken.
10,000.
I always average about 10,000 steps. Sometimes I go a little over, but generally, after I’ve reached 10,000, I know it’s time to head home.
Ive always loved walking. I could walk for days with no issue at all. I don’t know how I’d be able to live without it.
If you can’t tell, I take “walk it off” to a whole new level.
I walk to the crosswalk and press the button a few times.
“Come on… there’s not even anyone here,” I grumble to myself.
The freezing air has become unbearable now, and I grow impatient.
Fuck it.
I start crossing the road, speedwalking.
No one is here anyway. This road is always empty.
Suddenly, I hear the loud hum of an engine and feel the swift rush of air from an oncoming vehicle. I glance over, trying to walk faster now. And the last thing I see is bright lights—so blinding I can’t see anything else around me. I hear myself hitting the pavement, and a girl shouting something at me before she exits her vehicle.
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Ouch.
Is the first thing I think as I open my eyes. A bright white light from the ceiling shines in my face.
I somehow manage to gather the strength to lift my head, immediately realizing I’m in a hospital.
What the hell happened?
I groan. My entire body feels like it’s been kicked and punched relentlessly. I look around, noticing all the machines I’m connected to.
Wait, how long have I been asleep?
I quickly try to sit up in a panic—just as a nurse enters the room. She drops the tray she’s holding and runs over to me.
“Thank goodness! You’re awake!” She grabs my shoulders, gently laying me back down on the bed. “Please don’t try to move. You broke three ribs. I’m not sure if you remember, but you were hit by a car.”
I look at her, eyes wide, still processing the fact that she said I broke three ribs.
“Oh,” is all I say, looking down and just now realizing that one of my arms is fully bandaged. It doesn’t seem to be broken, though.
“You were asleep for nearly three days,” she says gently. “I know it’s probably a lot, so we can go over the injuries later. We’ve already contacted your parents, so don’t worry—they know.”
Her voice is soft and calm, somehow taking all my worries away.
“Thank you,” I say weakly. “Do you think I can call them?”
“Of course!” She smiles. “I was just about to offer that.” She walks over to the counter and opens a Ziploc bag of what looks like my belongings. She pulls out my phone and hands it to me.
“You can call them, and then we have to do some diagnostics, okay? Just to see how your injuries are healing. And, you really should eat,” she adds, gathering a few needles and pills.
I power on my phone, only to see nearly a hundred unread messages.
I’ll deal with that later… I think to myself, quickly going to my contacts and calling my mom.
She answers almost immediately.
“Oh my god! Y/N! Are you okay? You’re awake?” she rambles, asking a million questions at once.
“I’m okay. I, uh—I just woke up, and I really can’t understand a word you’re saying when you ramble like that.”
“Ah, you’re right, sorry—it’s just—you’ve been asleep so long and—”
“I know,” I cut her off. “I’m okay though. I promise. Could you let everyone else know so I don’t have to repeat this same phone call fifty times?” I say sarcastically.
She laughs. “Of course. Thank you so much for calling, sweetie. Me and Dad will come visit you in a few hours, okay? Get some rest.”
“Thank you, Mom. Love you.”
“I love you!” she says, before I hang up and place the phone on the small table beside me.
I lay my head down, nearly falling asleep before the nurse speaks.
“Okay! Time for your checkups.”
I groan.
This is already getting old.
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I wake up from my nap to see my mom and dad standing in my room. My dad is holding my favorite flowers—lilies—and my mom is tearing up as she runs over to hug me.
We talk for a while and catch up, before I ask, “So… who the hell even hit me anyway?”
My mom and dad glance at each other, like they’re silently debating whether to tell me.
“You’re not gonna believe us…” my dad says. “But it may or may not have been some famous girl.”
I give them a look that says 'seriously', letting my face do the talking.
“Now’s not the time to joke,” I say in a cold tone.
“We’re not kidding,” my dad replies firmly. “She felt so bad about it, she’s paying for all the medical bills. She even begged us over and over to let her buy you a puppy or something.”
I stare at them, waiting for my dad to crack a smile and say he’s joking. But he keeps that same stern, serious expression.
“Okay, you’re freaking me out. Are you serious? Who is it?” I ask eagerly.
Before my dad can respond, there’s a knock at the door. The door slowly creaks open, and none other than Billie Eilish steps in.