A lot of questions were asked during the rest of the class. Even though, we only received information about the trip to Italy, it was a surprisingly good day. 

Pearl links her arm with mine as we're walking on campus. "What are you gonna have for dinner?" She asks me. I scoff as I retrieve my car keys. "Probably just something simple. We're nothing like your family, Pearl," I smile. "You always have these fancy meals that people can get at a very luxurious restaurant." Pearl nods. 

"Fair enough. But do keep me posted on what you are doing the rest of the night. Because if you're doing nothing-" I finish the sentence for her, "I will text you so that we're going to shop together. I know," Pearl gives me a soft pat on my head. "Good girl," she opens her grey BMW E53 X5 car door and pushes her bag into it. 

I laugh at her comment, "I'll probably see you later, though. Bye!" Pearl gives me a wink and she steps in her car. 

I get my car off lock and sit in the drivers seat. Pearl's car rumbles to life with a great roar. "She really does keep her healthy," I chuckle. I wave as Pearl drives off. Getting a honk in return. 

The car key fumbles as I put them in the ignition. Waiting a few seconds before I turn it and let the engine roar. I close the door and put on the seat belt. The sun slowly starts to sink as it is almost 5:30 p.m. 

Multiple colors fill the sky. 

I put the car in reverse as I drive out the parking space. Having more than enough space is ideal when driving your car butt out a space in the parking lot. 

Not feeling like turning on the radio, I drive in silence. It's calm and relaxed. The silence is comfortable. Dark green trees pass me as I drive the maximal speed. Only going 6 miles over the 55. 

My headlights are the only thing that is giving light as the sun is already gone and the moon is now high in the sky. But the trees are very covered on each other that they won't let the moonlight in. 

Something in the corner of my left eye makes me take my eyes of the road.

Nothing else is there besides the trees. I shrug and focus on the road again. 

My feet hit the brakes before I even could comprehend what was happening. Yellow eyes meet my green ones as I dodge the animal that is standing in the highway. I gasp as my car turns towards the trees. I push the brakes once again. But my car begins to slide and I hear something break. 

The car tolls over and I cover my face with my arms. After what feels like an eternity, the rolling stops. 

I groan. My whole body hurts and it feels like someone has been poking knifes into me. Blood trickles down my face. Glass lies everywhere. I put my right arm on the car's roof and try to get the seat belt off me with the other hand. I stop suddenly.

It's moving closer. And when it's only a few meters away from me, it is clearly that I almost hit a wolf.  

Tears stream down my face. Mixing with the blood. 

My eyes are locked with the wolf's ones. Neither of us are moving. 

I hear growling on my right. Panic consumes me and I'm too scared to do anything. The wolf that stands closest to me takes a step back and then runs away. Another wolf following hot on its tail, disappearing into the dark  woods. 

I need to get out of here. I wriggle my hand between me and the seat belt. A relieved gasp leaves me as I hear it click. 

I push myself away from the steering wheel and towards the roof of the passenger seat. I grab my cellphone that's in my bag. The glass prickles me in my back. But my mind is busy with getting out of here that acknowledging the pain.

I open the phone and immediately look if I have signal. "No," I let out a cry. 

Putting my feet on the car door, I kick as hard as I can. But it wouldn't budge. I kick it again, with as much power I can muster. Just a dent. 

"I won't get stuck in here!" I yell as I kick the door. Just as I want to strike again. I hear a car brake. Making a screeching sound doing so. Someone is rushing their way towards me. I grip my phone out of fear. What if it's someone who isn't friendly at all. It could be a killer for all I know. What if-

"Mr. Schmit?!" I yell. Stunned to see him here. 

He pulls at the door, but it still won't budge. I groan. I'm going to be stuck in here forever. 

"Hold on, Diana. Just a little bit more," he grunts and pulls even more. He gets the door to budge, and out of its hinge. He throws it besides him as if it's nothing. I stare at him. "Come on." He reaches out with his hands. Totally ignoring my stare.

I slowly move towards the opening. The pain is overwhelming. I can't help but to let out a cry as he softly grabs me by my right wrist.

"It's alright. You're alright," Mr. Schmit assures me. He picks me up bridal style. Away from my wrecked car. "I will take you to the hospital, it isn't far from here," he puts me in his passenger seat and puts the seat belt around me. My eyes are getting heavier by the second

I see Mr. Schmit running towards the drivers seat. He steps in and begins to drive the second he has his seat belt on. 

I put my head on the window of the car door. Letting my eyes close, I hear Mr. Schmit telling me that everything will be alright.

◻

A steadily peeping sound makes its way to my ears. Still sleepily, I open my eyes. 

The bright light makes me close them for a second. But after blinking a few times, they become adjusted. 

"Hey, she's awake," I hear a female voice besides me. "Pearl?" I lazily say her name. My throat is dry and another word doesn't come out. 

"Yes, it's me, I'm here. Hold on," she hands me a glass with water and I drink it in one gulp. After I have given her the now empty glass back, I ask her what happened. 

"You don't remember?" I shake my head, "no, I don't. Or at least, everything is just so blurry." The room becomes silent. Pearl walks towards the door. "Pearl?" She ignores me and walks out. 

I hear voices outside the door and not much later the door opens again. I look up from my hands. "Mr. Schmit?" He nods. "What are you doing here?" Mr. Schmit takes the seat next to me and puts his hands on his knees. "You really don't remember?" I sigh and shrug. "I do. Just in flashes."

He gives a short sigh. "You had an car accident," he pauses for a minute and looks at me. "Oh," is all I manage to say out. The monitor goes from steady to a high beat. "What the hell happened?" I sit up straighter but then regret the decision as everything begins to hurt. The monitor is still unsteadily peeping. I put the pulse oximeter off my finger with a grunt. It flat lines.

Not even a second after putting the oximeter off my finger, the door busts open with several people streaming in. All stopping when they see me sitting up. 

"Are you kidding me?" A very young woman steps aside from the group doctors. She ushers them all outside. "Girl, don't give us a scare like that," she says sternly as she looks at my file that hangs at the end of the hospital bed. "I'm doctor Hucki, but you may call me Ju." She gives me a soft handshake. 

"Can you tell me something about you?" Ju asks me as she sits on the tip of the bed. I quickly look at Mr. Schmit but he remains unmoved in the seat. 

"Yeah, sure," I take a short breath, thinking about how to begin. "My name is Diana O'Shea. I'm a 22-year-old college student. Uh, what else is there to tell?" I say hesitantly. 

I look at Ju as she stops scribbling things down on the file and looks at me. "Well, tell me some of your hobbies. Maybe what your favorite car is. Or if you have an amazing friend, like the redheaded girl that has been here since the minute you have." I chuckle. 

"That would be Pearl Dixxon. I've known her since high school. She's awesome," I give a short laugh. Ignoring the pain that it causes. "We even got a sort of matching tattoos on our 18th birthdays," I show her the little heart with the unfinished bow through it. "Pearl has a half heart with a complete bow through it. It did hurt though," Ju smiles. "Tattoos always hurt," she shows me her arm. "I'm not supposed to share my tattoos with patients. But I'll make an exception."

The first thing that catches my eyes is a black snake that is tangled with a red rose. So many little things are written around it. "Is that Latin?" I ask. She nods her head, "Libri semper ad vincere proeliis." I take a minute to think, "Books always win the battles," Mr. Schmit and Ju give me a surprised look.

"My mom had me learn Latin. It's a beautiful language," they both agree with me. 

Ju stands up and puts my file back. "So, Diana, do you remember what happened to you?" I fall silent for a minute, fumbling with my hands. I look up, "a little," she nods her head. "Alright, well, it seems like you have a mild concussion. It should be gone in 2 weeks, tops. You also have a broken right wrist. And a few cuts on your face too. It's nothing too bad, really. You should be up and running in a few weeks. Except for the wrist, though. You might want to take things slow with the wrist," Ju smiles and nods. 

"Thank you!" She opens the door but stops for a second. "No, sweetie. Thank him," Ju points to Mr. Schmit. "He's the one who saved you after all," she leaves the room and silence sets in. 

'He's the one who saved you after all.' Ju's words keep repeating in my head.

"You saved me?" I ask him. He looks up from his shoes. "I only helped you get out. You yourself were the one who was quick to action. By the time I got to you, you were already out of the seat belt and tried to open the door by kicking it," I look into his dark blue eyes to see if he was telling the truth. He nods, and rubs over his short beard. 

Mr. Schmit stands up and puts his hands over mine. His warmth radiating off him. "I know that somewhere there is a slight worry about the trip, but you don't have to. The trip will be in around three weeks. So there's more than enough time for you to heal up before the trip starts. I won't allow it that one of my students will not go," he pats my hands softly and walks towards the door. "And don't worry about college. You have two weeks off. Now get some rest," he grins as he opens the door and leaves.