In Another Life (3 page)

Amanda interrupted her, “it doesn’t matter. There needs to be more information about the shoes. List the various styles they sell, and the range of sizes available. Also the markets they sell within. Clients love those sort of details.”

Marie felt puzzled. She’d been told to take notes of what was said during the meeting, now she was being told to embellish upon those notes and basically place words in to people’s mouths that they never even said.

“Okay, more shoe information,” she nodded politely, wondering in her mind how she’d possibly incorporate that in to her existing notes.

“Great,” Amanda smiled falsely at her. “And finish it before you leave, will you?” Though it was delivered as a question it was clearly an order. Marie fought the urge to audibly sigh. It was already five in the evening and the light outside was quickly waning. She didn’t relish the idea of driving up to Manchester in the dark of night.

“Could it wait until Monday?” Marie wondered sheepishly. She saw Amanda’s body prickle with contempt.

“It’s just that I’m going home this weekend and I’ve got to drive up to Manchester,” Marie was growing nervous, talking quickly.

“I promise I’ll do it first thing Monday morning.”

The Ice Queen raised her perfectly manicured hand to silence Marie.

“I’ve told you before; your private life is irrelevant to me. I need the notes finished and sent over to the client by the end of the day. By that I mean, today.”

Marie felt her heart sink from within her chest and plummet its way down to the floor.

“I know its Friday and you’ve probably got plans to attend a rave or something,” Amanda gestured dismissively as Marie fretted over what about her suggested she would attend a rave. She’d never even been to a festival. If Marie went to a concert there had to be assigned chairs and programs on sale. Seb always teased her about that. He loved going to festivals.

“You’re such a little princess,” he’d quip when Marie flat out refused to spend the night in a tent.

“I don’t go to-” Marie was about to explain that raves really weren’t her scene when the hand went up again, stopping her short.

“Finish it tonight, then the weekend is yours.” With those parting orders Amanda walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

Dejected, Marie slunk back to her cubicle. The office floor was almost empty as people hurriedly left to commence their weekend plans. She easily had another hour or so of work ahead of her.

Sitting down, certain that Amanda was out of sight, Marie kicked off her high heeled shoes and groaned with pleasure. They were like torture devices upon her feet, killing her toes off one by one. With her feet finally free she joyously flexed them as she called up the relevant file to be amended on her computer.

*

It was seven o clock when Amanda was satisfied that Marie had incorporated enough details about shoes in to her notes. Marie didn’t waste a second in dashing from the office as soon as she could. She still needed to get back to her apartment building, grab the bag she’d packed the night before and go get her car from the parking lot in the bowels of the building. Eating was pushed down the list of priorities even though her stomach was already growling menacingly, like a caged beast threatening to break free.

“Mum, I’m running late,” Marie explained in to her mobile phone as she boarded the blissfully empty carriage of the train.

“You’ve not set off yet?” her mother asked in her thick Manchester accent.

“Not yet, no, I had to work late.”

“No, Bill, she had to work late,” Carol Schneider called out to her questioning husband, pulling away from the phone she held in her and.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Marie promised.

“Have you had anything to eat?” her mother asked anxiously.

“Not yet.”

“I’ve got some lasagne leftover from tea I could heat up for you?”

“Sounds good,” Marie smiled. She missed her mother’s home cooking. She didn’t have the time to prepare decent meals herself and she existed off a diet consisting of beans and toast and porridge.

A male voice mumbled in the background on her mother’s side of the call.

“Your Dad says he doesn’t like you driving in the dark,” Carol relayed the mumbled message.

“I’ll be fine,” Marie replied, sounding more confident than she was. She was a nervous driver and the thought of navigating the motorways in darkness terrified her. The only consolation was that the roads up to Manchester would be relatively clear at that time of night.

“We just worry about you,” her mother admitted, sounding emotional.

“I’m looking forward to coming home.”

“We can’t wait to have you here, darling.”

Marie’s eyes misted as she heard the emotion in her mother’s voice. It had only been a few weeks since her last visit but sometimes it felt like an eternity. Home was the strongest constant in Marie’s life. Her parents still lived in the home where she had grown up. The home where she’d once believed Father Christmas came to visit, the home where she’d hosted fashion shows with all her dolls and the home where she’d wept over her first heartbreak, fearing that she’d die from the devastation. Marie missed home. She missed it every day, she’d just gotten extremely good at pushing those feelings way down to the pit of her stomach.

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” Marie said brightly, wiping at her eyes. “I’m looking forward to some of your lasagne.” On cue her stomach released a deep, desperate growl. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to last that long, she might have to make a pit stop at the services for a snack on her way back.

“We can go shopping tomorrow if you like,” her mother suggested, the emotion in her voice giving way to hopeful, uplifted tone.

“We’ve not been to the Trafford Centre in ages.”

“Sounds good,” Marie nodded. She enjoyed shopping with her mother. They’d gossip about people they knew, stop for a cup of tea and something sweet and generally while away the day absorbed in one another’s company. Her Dad would remain back at home consumed by whatever football game was on television. In the evening they’d all reunite for a big family meal and then watch a movie together. It was a blissful routine that Marie was excited to relive.

There was some more male mumbling in the background of the call.

“Your Dad says to make sure you avoid the toll road,” Carol fed back to her daughter.

“Tell him that’s fine, I will.”

Marie’s train pulled in to her station.

“I’ve got to go now, Mum, I’m at my stop.”

“Just be careful,” Carol urged. “We’ll see you soon.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

Marie ended the call and shoved her iPhone back in to her handbag. She ran as fast as her aching feet would let her, hurrying up the escalators like one of the frantic commuters she always loathed in the morning. When she emerged out on to the street long shadows had already crept along the pavement, the only glow offered from the numerous street lights and illuminated shop windows. Whether she liked it or not she’d be driving home in the dark.

*

It took Marie over an hour to get out of the borough of London thanks to numerous road works and traffic diversions. Finally out on the motorway she let herself relax and flicked on her car stereo. Soon a familiar pop song was filling the space around her and she hummed happily to herself.

In her ear she wore her Bluetooth headset so that she could call Seb. But he beat her to it and called her just as she was merging on to another section of motorway.

“Seb, hey, I’m just driving back,” she explained, a little distracted.

“I thought you’d be there by now,” Seb sounded surprised.

“So did I,” Marie agreed sadly. “But I had to work late.”

“Maybe you should have just driven down tomorrow. I don’t like you driving in the dark.” He sounded like her Dad.

“I’m fine,” Marie assured him. “I’m on the motorway now so the worst part is over.”

Driving round London had been a complete shock to Marie’s system when she’d first arrived. Even though she was from a city herself, she didn’t live in the centre. She was used to heavy traffic but nothing could have prepared her for what the capital had to offer. She quickly regretted having driven her car down in the first place but was determined to keep it with her, fearing that she may need it in an emergency if the tube was ever off line. Marie had always been a bit of a worrier, preparing for rainy days.

On the call to Seb she heard the soft clink of glasses and the light mirth of laughter. 

“Are you out?” she asked accusingly.

Seb paused before replying, “just with some of the guys. It won’t be a late one.” Marie didn’t really have much room to complain, she wasn’t even there.

“Guess where Amanda thought I was going tonight?” she asked, changing the subject as a jovial smile pulled at her lips.

“Where?”

“A rave.” Marie stated bluntly. On the other end of the line Sebastian burst out laughing.

“Does she
know
you?” he exclaimed.

“I know,” Marie agreed. “Perhaps she’s a keen raver and just thinks everyone else is too. I could see her out with her denim hot pants and paint smeared all over her face!”

Marie made herself laugh at the image which presented itself in her mind. Amanda would be even more out of place at a rave than she would be.

“Well say hi to your Mum and Dad for me,” Seb said, preparing to end the call. Marie felt a little dejected; she’d hoped to talk to him for longer. She had a long, lonely drive ahead of her. But he was out having fun and she didn’t want to encroach too heavily upon that.

“I will.” She promised.

“And bring me back some dates.”

Marie groaned slightly. She’d hoped for a relaxing weekend. She knew the minute she asked her parents about dates they’d both start fretting, pouring through the calendar to find dates which didn’t clash with this cousin’s birthday or the anniversary of that Grandparent’s passing. Dates were never an easy topic of discussion within her overly traditional family.

“Love you!” Seb declared, sounding slightly drunk.

“Love you too,” Marie smiled. Seb clicked off and the line went dead. Marie was left alone with only her pop music and her thoughts for company. Ahead of her stretched miles of motorway at the end of which was her sanctuary, her home. 

Tommy Wiggins was tired. Since both of his twins had decided to attend university he’d been forced to accept as many double shifts as he could. But he was a far cry from the man he’d been in his twenties. Back then, he could drive for days. He used to love being free in his lorry on the open road. He didn’t think twice about taking jobs which lasted for weeks, even months. His lorry was his home.

In his fifty third year things were a lot different. Tommy missed home desperately when he was on the road. He missed his wife Linda, he missed the twins Tyler and Declan. He missed sitting on his sofa with his feet up watching the cricket. Trucking stopped being a luxury and became a chore. But the money was still good, if it wasn’t he was certain he would have packed it in years ago.

As it was, university fees were steep and he needed all the over time to support the boys. And he’d do anything for the twins. They meant the world to him. They smiled up at him from the dashboard, a picture taken several Christmases ago when they all wore gimmicky festive jumpers for fun. Each time Tommy looked at that picture his heart warmed and he remembered why he put himself through the rigours of long, lonely journeys across the UK and Europe.

He’d be home soon. This was the final leg of a long job. He couldn’t wait for it to end. In his mind he was already planning on what he’d do when he got back home. At the top of his list was a long, hot bubble bath to sooth his aching limbs. He ached everywhere these days. He ached down his back, in his arms and increasingly in his legs. He was getting too old and worn out for lorry driving. He yearned for the days when he could retire and lead a more relaxing life.

With each passing mile his eyelids grew heavier. Tommy cracked a window to let in some of the cool autumn air. The sharpness instantly reawakened his senses but the effects were only temporary. Soon his head was drooping once more. Really, he knew he should stop and pull over. He was weary but his desire to finish and get home outweighed anything else. If he kept going he could be home first thing Saturday morning and that was all that mattered.

But sleep had a way of catching up on people unawares. It lulled Tommy aware from reality, coaxing his aching joints in to the pleasant respite of rest. His eyelids slid all the way closed, sealing out the dark, never ending road beyond the windscreen.

When Tommy was jolted awake by the sound of tearing metal he was crashing through the central divide on the motorway and heading directly in to the path of oncoming traffic. In his final moments he shot a fearful glance to the picture of his beloved twins, wanting his last thoughts to be of them.

*

Marie drummed her hands upon the steering wheel impatiently. If it wasn’t for Amanda she’d be home already, instead she was stuck driving up the motorway in darkness when everyone else was out enjoying their Friday night, including her fiancé Sebastian. The situation infuriated her.

She had nothing to do but sit and stew on her thoughts which she knew wasn’t healthy. She tried to focus on how great it would be to spend the weekend at home, but each time she did so her stomach let out a deep, low grumble, reminding her of how hungry she was.

With each passing service station she considered stopping. But stopping would add at least a half hour on to her journey and she was running late enough as it was. There’d be lasagne awaiting her when she got back, she didn’t need to indulge in some late night fast food, even if her stomach had a different agenda.

The bright pop songs echoing out from her car stereo began to annoy Marie. Each synthesized female singer who chirped on about how great love was grated against her. It was like bird song before dawn. Whilst lovely in pitch, it was the last thing anyone wanted to hear when they were tired. They’d rather return to the dark pleasantness of sleep, but instead the birds persisted, resolute in their desire to welcome in the new day.

Marie was now in no mood for birdsong or pop. She needed something more sullen, less bright and hopelessly optimistic. She reached over and popped her glove compartment and tentatively glanced across at the CDs stored inside. Ahead of her the road was empty. She felt she could afford a few seconds with her eyes off the road.

Looking back at her CDs she saw one that she instantly felt drawn to. It was the album by the band Imagine Dragons who both she and Sebastian were really in to at the moment. It was incredibly rare that they both liked the same band so she was pleased they were able to share in it. It was the shared approval of the band which made her rush out and buy their album. So often Sebastian scoffed at her musical preference that it was a pleasant change to have been in agreement over the quality of something.

Pulling out the CD case she pressed for the current CD to come out of her stereo. Katy Perry’s latest album begrudgingly slid out. Marie doubted it would be long before it returned to the main stereo system, pop would always be her favourite genre of music.

She felt instantly reassured by the opening chords of Radioactive which were calm and melodic before breaking in to the drama of the song. Smiling, she straightened in her seat. That’s when she spotted the lorry directly in front of her, heading straight for her car at frightening speed.

Marie tried to react but she felt like she was doing everything in slow motion. Her mind went blank with panic as she desperately tried to recall the lessons she had been taught during her driving training. Did she need to turn? Emergency brake? She had a split second to make a decision. Not knowing what else to do Marie slammed the brakes and tightly clutched the steering wheel, pressing herself up against it as she prepared for impact.

The lorry tore in to the car, sending it scattering across the motorway as though it were nothing more than a discarded tuna can. All Marie could hear was glass smashing. Closing her eyes, she held her breath and waited for it to be over.

As the two vehicles connected Marie was thrown forwards. Despite wearing her seat belt she still lolled forward as lifeless as a crash test dummy. Her chest smacked against the hard steering wheel with frightening force.  Her head then snapped back before the impact pushed her forward and she felt her forehead slam hard against the wheel.

Something wet and hot trickled down in to her eyes.

Gasping, she willed the moment to be over. The lorry continued forward in its relentless journey of destruction.

Her little car flipped on to the driver’s side and skidded towards the central divide. The glass in the side window instantly smashed sending sharp daggers in to Marie’s body. The car continued to skid along the motorway for a couple of meters before eventually slowing and grinding to a halt.

Panicked, Marie waited. She could hear the frantic beating of her own heart echoing manically in her ears. Surreally, the record on her stereo was continuing to play, reaching its crescendo with eerie timing.

She was no longer aware of what was happening beyond the car. Her hearing was distorted as though she was under water. Numbly, she tried to regain her senses.

Tipped on its side with Marie still strapped in to the driving seat she was offered a skewered vision of the world which she was unable to focus on. Opening her eyes she blinked against a never ending flow of liquid. Each time she was able to see something, more liquid pooled in her line of vision and made it almost impossible to see anything.

“Argh,” she called out, her voice sounding disconnected from her body as though it was no longer her own.

Marie squirmed slightly in her seat, trying to move. Even the slightest gesture made her whole body ripple with piercing pain. She tried to call out again but her chest felt unbearably tight, causing her breath to catch in her throat.

As the minutes ticked by her mind began to race. She’d been in a car accident. She was currently in her car which was on its side and she was certain that she was severely injured. But she had to get out of the car, she knew that much. The longer she remained on the motorway the longer she was potentially in more danger. There hadn’t yet been time for the emergency services to arrive, had there?

Time seemed to have stopped flowing in a continuous fluid motion. It was almost as if time had completely stopped. Marie had no comprehension of how long it had been since she collided with the lorry. All she knew was that if she didn’t get out of her car she risked another car slamming in to her, unaware of the horror that awaited it as it drove merrily up the motorway.

First she’d need to disconnect her belt. She told her hands what to do but they didn’t respond, they remained glued to the wheel.

“Fuck,” Marie coughed desperately. Why weren’t her hands working? She told her body what to do, how to get out, but still nothing happened.

And she felt so tired, so incredibly tired. She felt like she was existing within jelly, that the air around her felt heavy and restrictive with content.

So tired.

The pain in her chest kept preventing her from stabilising her breathing. She attempted a deep breath but the pain was unbearable. It felt like someone had placed a knife directly between her lungs and was trying to turn it, cutting through all her inner flesh as though she were an animal to be carved up and served.

As she sat there she became alerted to fresh, new pain all over her body. Her heart throbbed, making her feel sick and her arms were beginning to feel cold and unhinged as if they were barely a part of her anymore.

She willed herself to move but she didn’t seem to have the energy.

“Come on,” she urged herself desperately, attempting to squirm slightly in her seat. The pain she immediately felt upon moving was indescribable.

“Argh!” Marie screamed. The sharp sound made her throat feel raw but she had to release the tension somehow.

“Argh!” she screamed again.

She wished she could see what was going on but between being on her side and the blood obscuring her vision she could barely see anything. She had no idea what was going on beyond her car. She strained to listen for the reassuring shriek of sirens but instead all she heard was her own heartbeat, drumming fast and relentless.

At least she was alive. She was wounded, but she was alive. Each beat echoing in her ears was a wonderful reminder that she was still there, she could still be saved.

Over the sound of her beating heart she made out the piercing squeal of rubber burning upon asphalt, accompanied by the long, drawn out sound of a car horn. Despite her limited senses she was aware that it sounded close. Her fears were confirmed when a car crashed in to her, sending her little vehicle further along the motorway. Within it, Marie bounced around like a rag doll, unable to protect herself as her head smacked relentlessly against the wheel, the ground and her head rest.

When her car finally stilled once more the world went black for Marie.

*

It was a devastating sight which greeted the first paramedics who were on scene. Jane Collins had been called out to numerous car accidents during her six years on the service but this was by far the most horrific she had seen. As the ambulance drove up to the wreckage and passed the police barrier she felt her heart instantly sink.

There were at least six cars involved. Having crashed in to one another at high speed they’d been tossed around the motorway like unwanted toys and now lay crushed and defeated with their drivers still trapped inside.

At the far end of the carnage was a huge freight lorry which had listed on to its side and covered both sides of the motorway.

“Okay, we need quick responses,” Jane ordered her team as they climbed out of the ambulance. Adrenalin began to surge through her as she immediately went in to action. There were lives to save and time was critical. Each second spent trapped in the wreckage of their vehicles inched them closer to the death. They were in the golden hour and Jane was determined to save as many people as she could.

“Survey each vehicle, get vitals if you can, then we prioritize and get out the most critical cases that we can first. If anyone can be treated in the field, set them up in the ambulance. I’ve already radioed in for back up.”

Her team nodded back at her. Each of them looked tense and anxious but also eager. The whole point to being a paramedic was to save lives, this was the sort of scenario they trained for.