THE ACCIDENT Popüler

1.
“What am I doing here?” was the first question he asked to himself, “what will happen next?” came second.

It was a cold January morning and he was walking fast to keep himself warm without any success. His busy mind was jumping subjects to make him forget how cold it was. The clear sky did not give the impression of an immediate rain, or snow, but you never knew in this country. She was famous with her weather broadcasts. There was rain in the morning, sunny afternoon, another shower in the evening and finally a clear view of the starts at night. Regardless of the season it was similar throughout the year. She was the perfect place for testing all those meteorological gadgets. Set them anywhere in the country and get the perfect readings of all varieties of the weather. The predictions and comments on weather was the essential part of all conversations on streets, at bus stops and in pubs. If you stuck with words, mention the weather and see the conversation continues without any break. If you want to change the subject what is there better than commenting on how the weather was unpredictable.

Five major TV channels were employing so many people just to broadcast the latest predictions. They were more likely wild guesses. The science and technology proved useless as far as the Britain was concerned. Most predictions were right but only momentarily and if you were out for a couple of hours, there was no use of it. People knew it well though. If it said sunny, you should take your umbrella in case. Well you should take your umbrella at all times actually. No wonder, the image of a perfect English gentleman was incomplete without a wooden-handle umbrella. Nowadays you don’t see those but it looks good if you stroll around the parliament square of London or Whitehall.

He was new in this city. But they all seemed alike for him. Similar streets, street names, houses, town halls, churches, pubs etc. How many Queen’s Head and King’s Arms are there? How many Victoria stations or St. Peter’s Squares? Houses are either detached or semi-detached. You see the mansions in the suburbs of big cities. There is a Church of England and a Catholic Church per town and more others in cities. If England was mountainous, probably the Britain would be entirely identical from North to South and West Coast to East coast.

His thoughts were drifting from one subject to another without any connection between them. He increased his pace and then suddenly stopped at the curb to cross the street. There wasn’t much traffic. Nothing was coming on his right. On his left a blue van was approaching with a steady speed. He knew he could make it. Without hesitation started to cross as fast as possible with one eye on the van. When he was sure that he would be on the other side he glanced at his right. It was the moment when a motorcycle hit him with 40mph. It was concealed by the van when overtaking it.

The shop keeper saw him starting to cross the street. He hasn’t seen him before so continued to organise the shelf behind the till. More packets of cigarettes needed to be bought from the cash and carry. He made sure the warning signs on the packets were displayed properly. “SMOKING CAUSES HARM WHEN PREGNANT” And all other times, he added.

The loud crash made him jump and turn his head to the window. The scenery he was witnessing would be engraved in his mind forever. The pedestrian with the dark blue coat was flying in the air. He landed between curb and the tarmac. No scream, no sound, stayed there motionless. He then saw the van at the background. After hitting him the rider lost his balance and hit the curb with his bike. They both flew forward. While he was landing on the curb, his bike crushed into the red phone box. The van driver was the second witness who saw the entire saga. He was self-employed, his van’s MOT had just run out and he wasn’t directly involved in the accident. So this combination satisfied him to continue his journey as if nothing had happened. He would suffer later both legally and ethically because of his quick decision but it seemed the right thing to do at that moment.

The shop keeper was the first to react. He dashed out and took his mobile phone out of his pocket.

More people were arriving by the minute.

The biker was on his hand and knees now. The accident was constantly repeating in his mind. He lost his bearings, was in difficulty to breath and wanted to take his helmet out.

The pedestrian was still motionless but breathing. The shop keeper’s report to the emergency service was accurate enough. He was experienced in such situations and correctly gave them the location and the condition of the man. He wasn’t aware of a youngster’s entry to his shop though. The opportunist teenager’s quick trophy was a handful of cash and a few packets of cigarettes. Then he left the scenery as quick as he had entered.

The woman on the other side of the line wanted to know whether the man was still breathing, had he gain his conscience, any sign of blockage in his airway. The shop keeper informed her in detail. 

When the sirens of the ambulance could be heard at a distance, the police was already taking measures to prevent a further incident. One of the officers was talking to the rider while trying to convince him to keep his helmet on. He might have a neck injury which could be fatal if a wrong move was done. The other one was redirecting the traffic by closing the inner lane with his parked vehicle. The passing vehicles were slowing down to a walking pace to have a good look at the scenery. Curiosity had killed the cat and so many people whose minds were more focused on such incidents than the traffic ahead.

The ambulance crew shared the two victims. But soon the one who went to see the biker came back to help his colleague with the pedestrian. He was still unconscious and this was increasing their concerns. The fire department was already informed about the accident and the fuel spillage. They arrived together with the second ambulance.

The flashing lights were attracting more and more people. The officers in the second police car were only trying to keep people away. They even put a line of tape across the curb at both ends. While the firemen were dusting the bike’s fuel, the stretchers were brought out by the ambulance crew. They carefully lifted the man and placed him on one of the stretchers. The second one was for the biker. His helmet was removed carefully and replaced with a collar.

The first ambulance left the scenery with dramatically wailing sirens and full speed. There was no rush for the biker. He seemed ok. But nevertheless he was laid on a stretcher and one of the crew accompanied him while the other one took the driver’s seat. They also left for the major hospital of the city.

The policemen’s appeal for a witness was not ignored by the shop keeper and he gave his contact details. He remembered the plate number of the van and within a matter of minutes the city’s police force was on lookout of the blue van. The rest of the folks claimed that they either did not see how it happened or kept their silence.

The female nurse inserted the needle into his vein. The monotonous sound of the machine came to life. But there he was showing no sign of life except the beeps of the monitor.  Luckily there was no internal bleeding. A couple of ribs were cracked. His pelvis bone was the most damaged part of his body. It was the area of impact. The nurse admired his half naked body while feeling sorry for him. She was recently separated from her long-term boyfriend who was recently more interested in males than females. She could settle with the idea of him having an affair with a woman than a man. But in these days anything and everything was possible. On the other hand, this foreign-looking man who, was lying still, was attracting her attention maybe slightly more than her professional margins. It is a pity that this hospital room was their meeting place instead of a local pub or club. She was in her thirties and yet hadn’t had the courage of having her first baby. All her friends already had one or two children, even some of them had teenaged ones. Her ex was not the kind of man who would take up responsibility of raising a child. This fact discouraged her more. Actually, when you think of it, this situation was not too bad when she remembered his latest sexual preferences. Because of her work pattern she had to work during unsocial hours. She also tried speed dating on internet without any success. Those who fancied her were the likes of men whose women dumped them for either younger or good looking ones and those she fancied were either married and looking for an affair or single with sex on their mind but nothing else. She sighed and focused on her patient’s progress and prayed that he would recover and then who knows what.

Meanwhile the biker was on his feet. Thanks to the latest technology and his stubbornness of choosing the quality gadgets he had no injury. There were only minor bruises. He was invited by the police to give his version of the accident. So it would take time to go back home and to see the damage on his bike. It wasn’t worrying him much since it was fully insured but he wished he never overtook the van on the wrong side. Should he tell the truth and face the consequences or change the scenario a bit to support his situation? Was there anyone there who actually saw how it happened? Maybe the man was suicidal. Maybe he was drunk. There were too many maybes and no certainty. He left the hospital with a police officer who was impatiently waiting for his release. He had already finished his shift and he had to spend some more time in the station interviewing and filling forms. He was invited to a party with lots of booze and attractive ladies. You would be surprised to know how many girls were falling for his uniform. But he would wear his favourite shirt and jeans to make sure his athletic body is in full view.

He remembered nothing about the accident when he attempted to open his eyes. A sharp pain caused him to close them again. His eyes were sensitive to light and it was painful. On the other hand wondering his whereabouts and the source of noises around made him to force his willpower.

The nurse heard the slight moan of her darling patient. She informed her senior colleague immediately. The traffic in the patient’s room increased dramatically. He was the most dramatic one in the clinic and surely the one who was unconscious for the longest period. When they brought him it was in January and there were only two days to the Valentine’s Day.

His recovery was unexpectedly fast. His broken bones and cracked ribs healed without any complication. When his head hit the curb his skull received no damage but some abrasion. With this rate he would be released in no time. This was good news for him but not for her. She had looked after him for over a month like he was her baby and now the time to say goodbye was approaching like a blink of an eye. She was glad that he was ok but this meant loosing him too. Her profession was also preventing her to open up her heart to him. He knew nothing about her feelings and this hurt her more than anything. She had to do something and she had to do quickly. What is to be done and how?

He was able to sit up despite the existence of metal pins that hold his pelvis together. The consultant had told him that these pins would not affect the way he walks or sits. The only side effect would be the metal detectors at the airports. He might be forced to strip until convincing the security that he has no intension to hijack the plane. Considering the recent developments and his native country he would be seen as a potential danger to the national security! All thanks to the support pins. Doctor’s comments made him laugh, maybe the first for a long time. His life in here was nothing but a misery. He missed his country and his life there, especially his friends. There were no near future plans to go there either. He was feeling trapped and this accident made the things first. He had found a job after chasing for months and it was his first day when the accident happened. He was already struggling financially and now his debts would soar more. Was there any state benefit to put him back to track? He hated to receive job seeker’s allowance but had no choice. Job centres, queues, meaningless interviews… He hated them all. If he was given the choice he would even avoid the street where the local job centre located. After all he was a foreigner, he was seen a foreigner and treated as a foreigner. Probably more alienated that a Martian! He had a degree in philosophy. He was the best of his class and proud to graduate with honours. His quick exit from his troublesome country meant a bright future and full of opportunities for him. But the reality hit him hard the moment he set foot. Even this hospital room was a better place for him than his rented flat. He was eating healthy food, watching TV and receiving lots of attention from nurses, especially the one with warm smile and sparkling eyes.

Their conversation was about almost everything. She was trying to spend most of her shift with him. If she was allowed she could come here in her off days. She liked him a lot and she knew he had similar feelings for her. After his release she knew she would find a way to not to lose contact with him. She roughly knew where he lived. He had told her where he came from, about his mates and family, his thoughts on this and that and his hobbies. He wanted to give her a Valentine’s card but there were certain things that he thought he better not. First of all, she might be married or living with a partner. Probably he was misinterpreting her attention. After all she was a nurse and it was her job to look after patients. It was too early to come with conclusions. He was struggling and how could he afford presents and night outs?  But still he would love to buy her flowers and give her a card with an affectionate poem on it.

She would love to receive such a card and flowers. She would love to spend more time with him. She felt lonelier now. He was right for her. He was making her laugh despite his situation. He was handsome with black hair and tanned skin. Whenever she remembers seeing him naked, a strange feeling was conquering her in a way that she had never experienced such a thing. She had to be his and he had to be hers.

Her morning shift would start at 10 am that morning. She had woken up early, washed her hair and wore her favourite perfume. She couldn’t wait to see him so made her way to hospital an hour earlier. Before preparing his and her cups of teas she wanted to say a quick “good morning” but knowing it was never quick.

The consultant released the patient at 8.30. Another nurse put him to a push chair and headed to the outpatients. He didn’t know any of the staff good enough to pass a message to his darling nurse. He felt sad. When she left him yesterday in his room, they were planning to see each other the following morning so that no phone numbers were exchanged. His departure was quick and efficient as if he was not welcomed there anymore. Maybe the administration had sensed what was going on. Maybe she wasn’t interested in him at all. Maybe it was just a classic patient-nurse relation. And here, he was standing outside the hospital, without any idea what to do. Should he wait for her by the door? Just to say goodbye, at least? He checked the time. 8.45. Felt hungry and walked to the nearest café across the street. This time he made sure that there was absolutely no risk of being run over. The moment he entered the café, she walked in the main entrance of the hospital. He found a table next to the front window, ordered a cup of tea and started to watch the hospital entrance.

She was in shock but tried not to show it. She already felt her colleagues’ eyes on her. She turned around and walked to the nurses’ station. His file was removed. There was no information at all. She had the courage to ask one of her closest colleagues who she considers a friend. All she knew was that the consultant’s arrival with his release note and the patient’s quick departure. She wanted to run outside and look for him. Something forced her to stop. She walked in to the kitchen like a zombie. She felt numb.

He had already been in the café for two hours and after two cups of tea his stomach started to protest. Also the waitress’s dirty looks made him feel uncomfortable, so he thought it was time to move.  It was time to move on too. He would pretend that it was just a dream. It never happened. She was just a dream girl who occasionally visits him at difficult times. She was a warm thought of happiness, she was like a dream. His feet were dragging when he turned his back to the hospital and walked away.

She looked at the clock almost every five minutes. The time was torturing her. She wanted to finish her shift and drive to the district where he lived. She was hoping to catch him maybe on streets or local pubs and shops. She had no phone number or address. Patients’ contact details were strictly held by the senior staff under locked file cabinets. If she attempted to open them this would incriminate her. At the moment she didn’t care less but something kept her doing so.

At the end of her shift she dashed out, drove out of hospital’s car park and disappeared in the general direction of the patient’s neighbourhood. She had no plans and had no idea what to do. All she wanted was to be there, sooner the better. She didn’t care the speed cameras either. Luckily, for her, the traffic was heavy and she couldn’t make more than 30mph. This made her more frustrated but couldn’t do anything.

She roughly knew where the accident occurred. Parked her car and walked into the shop where the only eye witness was standing behind the till. She just pretended as if she was there for shopping purposes. She strolled around while occasionally throwing a look at him. Her determination forced her to walk towards the till. She introduced herself and told him who she was looking for. He was surprised but understood perfectly and told her what he knew. He was new in the area and he hadn’t seen him before. Her disappointment was obvious. She thanked, left the shop and walked on the pavement without any clue where to go next.

When he arrived home, he had nothing to do. Soon or later he had to find a job. He thought about going to the one he supposed to start at the day of accident. Than changed his mind. He had no prospects, no plans of future or present. If he could allow himself it was one of those moments he could easily cry. But he held it. His thoughts were interrupted by the knock at the door. He wasn’t expecting anyone. He had no one. Could that be her, he thought, and then “no” he said, “not possible”. There was no way that she could find her. Curiosity led him to open the door. He wished he didn’t. The immigration officers flashed their ids to his face, in a way that, he couldn’t read the blurred names. He had no doubt who they were anyway. They entered the house and told him that he was staying in the country illegally. They said they would nick him and he should pick his stuff immediately. His shock conquered all his senses.

She had spent almost three hours strolling streets, talking to locals and questioning pub landlords. She left her contact number whoever she had spoken to. She gave up but she knew she would come back. Reluctantly walked towards her car and drove off. She needed to relax and a hot bath was the remedy.

They took him away within fifteen minutes of their arrival and put him at the back of an unmarked van. He was unaware that the accompanying police officer was the same one who attended his accident because he was unconscious at the time. The small convoy was en route heading the headquarters.

It took time for her to realise that she would never find him. The world was small but apparently this city wasn’t. She moved on but never forgot about him. It was an unread chapter of her most favourite book. It was a memory that sometimes felt like unreal. It was a brief episode of two lonely souls encounter. It was a love story of a kind.            



2 February 2005, Liverpool