it difficult to breath. I try to move my feet, but they seem to be glued to the ground, forbidding any movement. Fear overwhelms me as I see the car getting closer.
During times like this, most people would say that their life flashed before their eyes. I don’t know what kind of situation those people went through, because the only coherent thought running through my mind is crap, I’m going to be hit by a car.
Suddenly, the sky darkens, lightning cracks overhead, thunder booms directly above, and the intensity of the wind increases. The car is less than a foot away from me. Since moving is impossible, I close my eyes and wait for the pain—wait for my inevitable death.
It never comes.
The car horns blares, nearly blowing out my eardrums. At the last possible second, a large gust of wind blows through the street, picking me up and depositing me on the other side of the road. I put my arms out to try and stop the momentum, but only manage to scratch my exposed skin.
My body collides with the curb, successfully stopping the rolling. Turning onto my back, I try to catch my breath because the wind was knocked out of me during the fall. I can’t suppress the painful groan from escaping my lips as feeling returns to my body. Black spots start to dot my vision. Moaning, I attempt to roll over and sit up, but am overcome with dizziness. I hear the sound of a bell, a door open, and then footsteps running towards me. The car speeds past me—the driver yelling all sorts of obscenities out the window.
“Oh my goodness, dear, are you alright? I saw what happened, but couldn’t make it to you soon enough.” I look towards the sound of the voice, but can’t concentrate on who is speaking to me. The world is spinning all around me, creating duplicates of everything. I feel the woman reach for my hand. Wrapping my arm around her neck, her other arm wraps around my waist and she pulls me up. Leaning almost all of my weight on her, she walks me towards her store: the BlackMoon Bookstore.
“Colton, go and get me an icepack and some Advil from the back,” she yells to someone once we step in the doorway.
Muffled into the background, I hear a book being dropped and the sound of footsteps receding. The woman guides me towards a nearby chair. Overcome with a headache, I lean my head forward and place it onto my knees; my long dark curly hair falling and creating a curtain around my face, encasing me in my own world. I take a deep breath, hoping that the pain will stop soon.
After a couple of minutes, the room slowly stops spinning and I am finally able to lift my head and look around. Large shelves of books, both old and new, clutter the small shop. I can tell by looking around that certain sections have more visitors than others—some shelves have more dust lining their edges. The wallpaper is a deep shade of purple, fading with age, with small golden stars dispersed evenly on its surface. The back of the shop has large, leather-bound books behind a display case at the register.
“Are you okay, honey? Where does it hurt?”
Flinching at her loud tone, I start shaking my head and reply, “Ugh, my head.” It comes out as nothing more than a whisper. I can’t muster anything louder. Placing my head into my hands, I close my eyes and block out my surroundings again. How the heck did I get across the street? I should be dead right now or at least on my way to the hospital.
“I couldn't find an icepack, but here's the Advil. Is she hurt?” inquires a deep voice that I’m assuming belongs to Colton.
Without moving from my current position I answer, “I’m fine.” I don’t feel fine, but I don’t want any more attention than is necessary.
“Well you don’t look fine,” he retorts.
“Colton, leave the girl alone. She was almost hit by a car. Here dear, take this. It will help the headache.”
Lifting my head, I squint because of the bright lights. I see her outstretched hand with two small pills in it. Reaching out, I grab them and the bottle of water she offers and swallow them.
When my eyes adjust, I finally get a look at who is talking to me. The woman crouching in front of me looks to be in her late