***stardust

Basically copy-pasting the email I sent out earlier - if you've seen that, no need to read the following, it's the same thing, aside from a bit I just added to the end. Didn't want to type the story out again.. the reason I wrote it all up today was so I'd be done telling the story for a bit, still shakes me up a little recounting the details. ^^;;

Despite the pouring rain, I decided to ride my bike to work today as usual. I'd wanted to take the town bus, but its hours switched a bit again, and wasn't going to start running until 3, when I needed to be at work by 2. So I bundled into some raingear (included Tom's rainpants, which are far too big on me, it was pretty funny), and started out a bit early. The water wasn't too deep anywhere, and despite the traffic, I had no trouble crossing route.. 60? 20? the big one that goes by WalMart. I'd just passed WalMart, and was up near Patton's and things. A bit ahead of me, I saw an suv waiting to pull out into traffic. I paused for a minute, watching both the truck and the traffic, and when I saw that she wasn't moving at all, and the traffic looked too solid for her to pull out into, I moved on ahead. Normally I wait to make eye contact, but this time I didn't... and I should have.

Just as I pulled out to cross the store's driveway, the suv did the same. She wasn't going terribly fast yet, and I was partly past her - I don't remember feeling any contact with the vehicle itself, so I think the truck hit my bike, and I fell off into the road. She stopped right away to find out if I was alright, I knew from the first that nothing major was injured, I could move things so I knew nothing was broken, but I couldn't answer her questions at first, my left leg hurt far too badly... I wasn't exactly screaming, but, it was pretty bad. She was every bit as shaken up as I was, I don't blame her... A few moments later, before she'd even walked over to me, a middle-aged guy came up to me, and asked if my neck hurt anywhere (it didn't), if I thought I could stand if he helped me... the woman came up, and he said he was a doctor. He helped me up and out of the street. An older woman had come over with an umbrella by this point, and said she'd called 911. She held the umbrella over me, said I could sit if I wanted, she'd keep it over me... I started to bend my knees, then changed my mind, and said I think I'd stay standing - it hurt waaayyy too much to bend my knees like that. The doctor pulled my bike out of the street - the back rim is pretty badly bent, and, of all things, the kickstand and the thing it's directly attached to had come off. (Wonder if that's what the funny noise was I'd been hearing lately?) Another guy, about my age, came out of one of the stores nearby, said he was an emt. He and the doctor had a brief exhange, the emt saying he had juristiction, as the doctor was from Ohio.. the doctor said it wasn't a matter of jurisdiction - he was just trying to get me out of the street.

Within a minute, two at the most, an ambulance and fire truck pulled up, sirens blaring and lights flashing. I laughed a bit, saying I didn't need *this* much attention; one of the women was groaning - "not the sirens, don't embarrass her like that!". Within moments, a small swarm of people was around me, though the fire crew soon moved away. (I'm assuming they'd simply heard "car" and "accident" on the radio, and came along in case there was something they'd be needed for.) I was helped into the ambulance by two very nice people, and they looked me over there. Nothing too serious - I could bend my knee, though it hurt to do so, and everything else was just bruised, the muscles maybe a little twisted and strained. Rolling up my pant leg uncovered a bit of blood - a reasonably long scratch, and a pretty deep (though small) gouge, near my knee, which was already beginning to swell a bit. Knowing my health insurance situation is currently a bit of a stretch (I'm still on Dad's, but technically I'm supposed to be living at home for that to work; we're pretty sure we can make it work though, enough of my official paperwork still has that address attached), and remembering how much my last ambulance ride cost, I debated a few minutes... but they really felt it was best for me to go into the hospital and get checked over, and I realised that knowing I was alright was more important than money. So off I went, with reassurances that either a nearby store or the police would hang onto my bike for me.

Went into the hospital on a stretcher (feeling rather silly, but, y'know), they checked my blood pressure and looked me over and all. Got some paperwork, and asked for a phone - I was supposed to have been at work by this point, and knew someone would probably call home, which would tip Tom off something was up, and everyone would be worried. The phone, however, wouldn't let me through, and it was about 15, 20 minutes before I finally got some help with it - it turns out that their phone thought our nice little VOIP number was long distance, and thus, wouldn't go through. So I asked to be given my purse (which was out of my immediate reach) so I could use my cell, though it only had a few minutes left. I called Tom, and just in time - he was about to set out looking for me! It turns out that Bruce, one of the owners at work, had heard there was a bike accident up the street, and immediately thought of me. They asked around at the store, and found out I hadn't shown up yet. As I'm always a little early, they were concerned and called the apartment, asking Tom if I'd left yet..... So Tom was just about to dash out the door to try to find me, when I called and told him I was in the hospital.
Bruce and Ann (my bosses) are really amazingly wonderful people. Tom called them when he heard from me, and they picked him up and came right over to the hospital, then waited around to take us back when I was all checked out. (They also picked up my bike from the store it was being kept at, and took it back to the Paper Factory.) So, so great of them, they're going to get such a pretty thank you card from me. :)
A doctor checked me over, found a few more sore spots around my knee, but after he had me walk (well, hobble, anyway) around a bit, was reassured that nothing was broken or anything, and an xray wouldn't be needed. (Which was a major relief for me, as those things are freaking expensive. I really was trying not to worry about the money end - I'm going to work all the paperwork out tomorrow, when I've calmed down more - but, it was still lingering in my mind.) A nurse washed off my knee, and bandaged it all up, telling me just to be sure to keep it clean, and that it was going to continue swelling against the ace bandage, and probably going to feel pretty stiff. The sheriff had stopped in to get my side of things, gave me the info for the woman who'd been in the truck - it's being labeled a no-fault accident, as it should be. All in all, I was in and out in maybe an hour at the most, probably not even.
They gave me hospital clothes (as mine were wet, and my pants a little torn), which was pretty funny, I looked like an inmate. The socks are cozy though, hee. Tom helped me get dressed and walk and all, and Bruce and Ann drove us back home, saying that if we needed anything at all, to just let them know...

I've been curled up on the couch resting since then, in pajamas and blankets. Tom made me hot chocolate (Ghiardelli!!! omg that made me feel soooo much better), and put on some Jem videos for me. We ordered in subs (Pizza Wings'n'Things has free delivery, yo <3), watched some tv, and I figured I'd let you all know what's up. Dad (and Mel? plz?)'s planning on coming down tomorrow to check up on me, Mom said she might try to come down soon, and possibly get me a new bike (I doubt mine can be re-cobbled together yet again, unless someone has another spare rim?).. Grandma called as well, said they might be down in a few weeks.

I still can't believe I got through with just some scratches and bruises... I'm still hobbling pretty badly, it hurts an awful lot to put any weight on that leg, or bend it much, but Tom's been an absolute darling in taking care of me and helping me when I need to walk around and things. I can manage the stairs alright actually, as I can brace myself against the walls, and my arm and shoulder are hurting less now. I have painkillers, and took a few. Will have Tom pick up some Neosporin tomorrow if I can't find any around here. Definitely going to get to sleep early, and I wasn't scheduled to work again until Tuesday anyway (though Bruce and Ann said to come in whenever I'm feeling up to it). And yes, I am going to request that my work schedule coincide with the bus schedule now, I think. ^^; (Was planning to do that once the colder weather set in anyway... and that basically just means less weekend working, which I'd have less of anyway, as everyone in school can work weekends but less in the week, and I'm the opposite.)

I also can't believe both a doctor and an emt were two of the four people who came to rescue me from lying in the road. And everyone all along the way was very, very good to me... I can't believe how lucky I've been today, and how blessed I am to have such amazing people around me. (And Tom wonders some days why I believe in God... :)

I'm fine, more shaken up now than anything, though my leg still hurts pretty badly and I'm sure I'll be limping a bit for a few days. I can get around though, and Tom's taking amazing care of me. I... it feels a little unreal, that that happened to me, and that I got through with so little damage...

And here's to my bike: It's been with me since I was twelve, and withstood ten whole years of riding over rough terrain, bad sidewalks, through mud and potholes and pouring rain. It's survived being backed into by a car, and having Dad re-cobble the entire back end together (which shouldn't be possible). It's probably been through everything a bike can be put through, aside from the more drastic things Matt&co put theirs through. And today, it took the brunt of an suv, taking the hit rather than me.

It may be pink and freaking purple, but it's been one amazing bike.

(Crap, now I'm sad again... if anyone's got a spare rim, I'll so try to save it yet again.)

*Ananda Daydream * 8:30 PM * (0) stars grow bright *

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