I’ve heard about the flames of love burning. It reminds of that Frankie Goes to Hollywood song which my dad sadly couldn’t stop playing every year on Valentine’s Day.

Normally on Valentine’s Day, I curl up under my bed covers and pretend that I don’t exist. Love has never ever happened to me until this year when everything changed. When my life was spun nearly out of control, so much that I could have ended up lifeless. I wouldn’t have been able to talk and laugh with my friends, cuddle with my family or play games with my pet cat Maudie. That’s not what happened. This is what happened.

It happened all so fast, like a scene from a film when the actors are running from boulders (quotes Indiana Jones) and the way it happened just didn’t shock the core of me until I ended up in the small white room of A&E.

I was wearing my blue coat and flower printed dress. The sun was out shining and the skies were blue. The perfect winter day except the date was the 14th of February.  

My dad bustles into my room, determined to wake me up from my covers. He knows why I hide away and I know that it isn’t healthy and that I should jump around and pretend to be happy that I’m single. But I hated being single. Mum knew that, dad didn’t.

‘Jenny! Rise and shine!’ boomed my dad. ‘Time to get up.’

I slowly sat up in bed. ‘Dad, its Valentine’s Day! You know what I do on Valentine’s Day?’

‘Yes I do!’ boomed dad. ‘But this year, I want that to change.’

I groaned and stood up. ‘Don’t tell me that you want me to sit down in front of the television and watch a soppy chick-flick with Mum?’

Dad laughed. ‘No kiddo. I just need you to go to town and do some shopping for me.’

Town is a great place. Shops, entertainment like the local cinema, greetings in lots of different languages like Spanish and Italian.

I heave a small sigh of relief. ‘Thank goodness you didn’t want me to watch a soppy film.’

Dad laughs again. ‘It won’t take too long. We are out of some meat for tonight and we need a dessert too.’

‘OK dad.’ I nodded. ‘Sounds good.’

I quickly grab some clothes, get dressed and race downstairs to the smell of warm toast which dad has happily made for me to eat before I leave.

‘Thanks dad.’ I smile.

Mum enters the room at that moment. ‘Good morning sweetheart.’

I turn to face her. ‘Morning mum, how are you?’

Mum pauses for a moment and replies. ‘I’m good thanks.’

As I get my bag ready to go, I spot my parents in a warm embrace. At that moment, I couldn’t help but feel jealous seeing them do this. Don’t get me wrong, I do love my parents. But I just wished that I could do that with a boy.

‘Sweetie. Do you have enough bus fare?’ asks mum.

I look at her. ‘No, I’m 70 pence short.’

Mum bustles around and takes some change out of a small pot. ‘Here, take this.’

I reach out and grab the change. ‘Thanks mum.’

Both of my parents walk with me to the front door and let me out, ready for my trip to town. I walk out of the driveway, turning back to wave to my parents before walking on towards the bus stop.

When I reached the bus stop, an elderly lady was standing there, she looked frozen in her small cardigan.

I speak up. ‘Would you like a small hot water bottle?’

The small hot water bottle was what I carried around in my pocket sometimes during the winter.

The lady stares at me. ‘Are you sure dearie?’

I nod. ‘Positive.’

She reaches out and takes it. ‘Thank you ever so much.’

I smile. ‘You’re very welcome.’

At that moment, the bus pulls round the corner and stops at our stop. Myself and the lady get on the bus and pay the fare. She sits down on one of the seats at the front of the long, wide bus while I sit somewhere in the middle by the window.

As I sit down, I notice a boy from my class Harrison Young sitting at the back of the bus. Harrison is the same age as me and slightly taller. I couldn’t help but have a small crush on him. I wondered if he was single or not. I quite hoped that he wouldn’t be single so I could try and ask him out but you never know, he could have been taken and that could have ended me up in an uncomfortable and embarrassing scenario.

Slowly, I place one of my headphones in my ear and watch the world go by as we sped towards town. I could see out of the window the shops, the people walking along the pavement, a group of kids on bikes and laughing around. I wished that when I was younger, I could have been as confident and relaxed as they were. But on the inside, I know that confidence isn’t me. I’ve always been aware of my insecurities and that did affect me for a while.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Harrison staring at me. On his face, he wears a nice smile. I pause and decide to smile back. After all, Harrison is generally nice.

We were nearly there, just another few minutes before our bus pulled into the busy station where lots of people were also going to be there getting on and off various bus. On the way home from town sometimes, I would have to stand around and wait for a bus. The queues can be dreadful.

My song ‘My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark’ came to an end and I sighed in frustration. Fall Out Boy had put me in the mood for shopping and I didn’t want the song to end at that moment.

I looked down at my iPod and decided to choose another song. Because I was so focused on trying to find a new song, I didn’t hear the screams of fellow passengers. I didn’t hear the loud honking of the bus horn and most importantly, I didn’t hear my name being called.   

Until, it hit me.

Fast. So fast. Words can’t describe it.

I felt my body being flung into the air quite high, my headphone falling out of my ear, my iPod falling out of my hand and my eyes losing sight. I did notice something red and orange out of a small corner of my eye. I thought that it was a passenger from the bus. But it wasn’t.

It was flames.

The heat was scorching as the bus was hit on impact. The window glass was all smashed up. I tried to open my mouth to cry for help but no words came out. My voice is weak like all of the fluids inside me had dried up like a desert. I felt no pain, I felt no life.

I didn’t know what happened next until I woke up in A&E, bruised, shaken and frightened.     

‘It’s OK daring. You’re in hospital in bed.’

I struggle to fully open my eyes but when I do, I notice a small but clean room with a nice window and a tall, slim nurse looking down at me.

‘I’m Nurse Matthews.’ she says.

I can’t nod. I can’t move and I certainly can’t speak. I’m too dazed to do anything.

‘You were on a bus and crashed into a deliveries lorry.’ says Nurse Matthews. ‘The bus caught fire but it’s a miracle that you’ve woken up.’

Finally, I find my voice. ‘Mum, dad? Where are they?’

I spot two nervous figures walk into my room but I recognized them straight away to be my parents.

‘Oh darling!’ says mum. ‘Thank goodness you’re awake.’

My brain starts to think. ‘Harrison? What about Harrison?’

Nurse Matthews smiles. ‘That boy is a true hero.’  

Wait. A hero?

Nurse Matthews spots my confused face. ‘He escaped with only minor injuries but he saw you unconscious and decided to lift you free from the bus.’

‘Harrison rescued me?’ I questioned, still not believing what I was hearing.

‘Yes.’ Nurse Matthews replies. ‘He did plus he also found your bag and iPod.’

I release a small smile. ‘Is it working?’

Mum finally speaks. ‘It’s fine. I had a look. Only a small mark of dirt on the screen. Thank goodness you put your iPod in a cover case.’

I smile again. ‘Yeah, thanks for buying it for me.’

My parents and Nurse Matthews turn towards the door as a boy walks into the room. This boy has a small gash on his right cheek but I recognize him as Harrison.

The adults smile and leave the room, leaving me with Harrison.

I open my mouth. ‘Harrison…’

He sits on the side of the bed next to me and takes my hand. ‘Yes?’

I breathe slowly. ‘Are you single?’

Harrison lets out a small laugh. ‘Yes and I know that it’s Valentine’s Day which just so happens to be the most romantic day of the whole year.’

I laugh with him. ‘This may sound crazy but…’

Harrison interrupts me. ‘Look, I thought that you should know that you are the most beautiful girl in the whole year. I love how you can be cute and mysterious as well as have a great sense of humour at the same time.’

I blush. ‘Harrison, that’s the sweetest thing that a boy has ever said about me.’

Harrison looks into my eyes. ‘Yes, I do love you.’

My heart soars. ‘And I love you too.’

We both stare at each other before he bends forward and kisses me on the lips. I am taken slightly aback but I let him in, holding onto him and not wanting to let go.

‘Harrison.’ I whisper. ‘Will you be my boyfriend?’

He looks at me. ‘Yes, I will.’

We kiss again, hoping that none of the adults were watching us.

‘I have to admit, you’re a pretty good kisser.’ said Harrison.

‘You’re pretty good as well.’ I reply.

My parents and Nurse Matthews walk in. I take this opportunity to ask my parents’ permission to do something. ‘Can I go on a date tonight please?’

Both of them laugh. ‘I wish we could but you need to stay in hospital for a while beautiful.’

I whined. ‘Not fair!’

Nurse Matthews laughs. ‘You have a broken leg which we need to monitor here in hospital for a few days before we can let you go.’

I look at Harrison wearing a sad face. ‘OK then.’

‘But!’ Nurse Matthews adds. ‘Maybe we can bring the date to you!’

Myself and Harrison gasp in amazement as both of my parents bring forward some Valentine’s Day chocolates and a copy of The Vow.

Mum smiles at me. ‘Yes, I do know that you don’t like soppy films.’

I laugh. ‘But I’m not watching one alone am I?’

Harrison turns to face me. ‘No, you’re not.’

The adults leave us to watch the film and eat the chocolates in peace. During the film, I had the strong desire to kiss Harrison on the lips. He must have heard my thought because at the same time, he turns to face me.

We kiss and kiss again. But to my horror, I could see visions in my mind of fire and flames. I start to shake.

Harrison notices. ‘What’s wrong?’

I reply. ‘Fire, I see fire.’

Harrison pulls me close. ‘I see it too but it is flames of love burning, not flames that can harm us.’

I still shake.

‘It’s not going to hurt us.’ Harrison reassures me again.

I breathe in relief. ‘OK.’

During our romance blossoming scenes, I reminded myself just how eventful that this year’s Valentine’s Day had been. It hadn’t been sleeping in bed. I had a boyfriend, I had been a bus accident that nearly could have ended my life and most importantly, I had seen and felt flames of love burning.  

I’m Jenny and this has been my experience of Valentine’s Day. I just hope that next year on this date, I’m chilling at home and not on the bus. Not to feel scared whether my life might end or not. I have a second chance now and I’m grasping it with both hands. Not alone, but with Harrison. The boy who saved my life.