Avery Learns That Reinforcements Will Be Arriving Soon

Surprisingly, I was only 20 minutes late for work. I quickly found a parking spot and raced into the hospital. Just as I was about to step in to the elevator my cell phone rang. I answered.

“Sorry I missed your call,” Jasper said, “I was at the liquor store.” He’d been where I desperately wanted to be. “I saw you called,” he continued, “What’s up.”

“Nothing,” I replied, covering. “Just a little car accident.”

“What?!?!” he exclaimed. I could hear a glass crashing in the background.

 “It’s no big deal,” I assured him. “It was just a little fender bender. No real damage was done.”

Jasper got quiet. “Hello?” I asked. Still nothing. After a moment I could hear the sound of ice in a cocktail shaker.

“Sorry,” Jasper finally replied, “refill time.” Jasper took a moment to sip his freshly made martini then continued. “I can’t let you do this.”

“Do what?” I asked. I tried to play innocent but knew exactly what he was driving at.

“You’re self-destructing.

“Nonsense.” I was covering and he knew it.

“Avery, you crashed your car. Have you seen a therapist?”

“Yes.” I replied sheepishly.

“Oh my goodness. You’ve got a crush on him!”

“Do not!” I protested. I was lying through my teeth. This is the problem with friends you’ve had since childhood. They know all too well how to read between the lines. This can be both a blessing and a curse. In this instance, however, it was a blessing.

“Well, I’m putting an end to this,” Jasper continued.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that I’m coming to Chicago. I arrive on Friday.”

With that, Jasper excused himself to tend to arriving guests. I hung up the phone and got on the elevator. At that moment, I knew that things were going to be looking up.

Avery Has No Friends

The plain clothed police officer was much nicer that I thought she would be. Apparently, she has just finished working and was heading home. The accident was completely her fault, and she didn’t try to argue otherwise. Unfortunately, because she was a police officer, she was required to dispatch a third-party to take the report.

She returned to her car, I slumped into my driver’s seat, and we waited. I looked at the clock. 6:58 PM. There was no way I could make it into work in two minutes. I quickly dialed the hospital on my cell. My colleague completely understood. She told me to get there when I get there and to “take my time.”

Staring through my rain soaked windshield, I noticed the plain clothed police officer talking on her cell phone. I wondered what that conversation entailed. Was she talking to her husband? I imagined the discourse.

“I’ve been in an accident… No, no, no, I’m fine…Yes, dear. I know I should be more careful on the road… We’re going to have to cancel the reservations… I know. I was looking forward to Maggiano’s… Uh, huh… Well there’s no reason to waste the babysitter. Why don’t you take two steaks out of the freezer and we’ll have our date night at home…”

It was a lovely thought, but it left me feeling lonely. I wanted someone to call. Someone who’d ask me if I was alright, who’d warn me to drive more carefully, to suggest we meet for a drink after my shift to call my nerves.

I searched through my phone’s contact list:

Jack: There’s no way I’d call him.

My Parents: I don’t think so. The only thing I’d get from them is a long lecture about traffic safety and the need to be more responsible when operating a motor vehicle on the dangerous streets of Chicago. No thank you.

I continued to scroll through the names. Everyone was either a casual acquaintance or no one that I’d consider turning to in a time of need. I called Jasper in New York. After about five rings, I was met with the familiar voice.

“Hi, you’ve reached Jasper. I can’t come to the—”

I slammed down the phone. It’s sobering to discover that your support system consists of only four people—scratch that—three people now that Jack was no longer in my life. What’s worse was the realization that I really don’t like to talk to my parents often and Jasper lived 700 miles away.

Once the third party officer arrived, we completed the proper paperwork and I was on my way to the hospital. Into the lion’s den, I should say. I was sure that the ladies in my unit would be brutal when they learned about the status of my relationship. And as lonely as I felt in the moment, I couldn’t wait.

Avery is Late for Work

It all happened so quickly. I barely remember a thing. One second, I’m cruising down the street toward my hospital then BANG. Although I was shaken, there didn’t seem to be any immediate damage. Nothing dramatic, such as the airbags deploying, occurred. I only hoped that the driver of the car I’d rear-ended could say the same.

I looked at the clock: 6:45 PM. Good grief. I was due at the hospital at 7:00. I took a deep breath and chose not to panic. As long as there wasn’t any serious damage, the driver and I would simply exchange information and be on our way. No big deal.

The rain continued to pour, making the information exchange more difficult that it sounds. I began to dig around the back seat for the umbrella I kept in the car for emergencies such as these. Unfortunately, all I could feel was carpet. Suddenly, I remembered that Jack had taken my umbrella to work one morning when he couldn’t find his. Apparently, he’d never returned it. All together now:

I hate Jack.

Lying on the passenger seat next to me was last month’s issue of CS—that’s Chicago Social to us old-timers. Perfect. I could use it to cover my head as I approached the other driver’s car. Unintentionally, I opened the magazine to a page of party pictures taken at an event at \ Nordstrom. Who’s smiling faces do I see front and center? You’ve got it. Jack and Me. It really does pour when it rains.

I didn’t have time to dwell on this. My thoughts were interrupted by the driver of the other car who was now briskly tapping on my window. I rolled it down.

“Are you alright?” I asked with all sincerity.

“Yes. You?”

I confirmed that I was in stable condition. This was going to be a breeze. She was fine. I was fine. There seemed to be minimal damage. There wouldn’t need to be a police report, and I would make it to work on time.

“Should we exchange information?” I offered. I’d actually never been in a car accident before.

“Actually, I’m a police officer,” the other driver replied. “I need to see your license and registration, please.”

This was obviously going to be an incredibly long night.

Avery. Naked.

My mind raced as I drove to work later that evening. The conversation Jack and I’d had earlier had really taken a toll on me. I couldn’t believe that he’d seriously think I’d part with my animals. That said, I was proud of myself. I’d really stood my ground.

Dr. Drexel Carrington a/k/a the good doctor says that I have to strongly assert my wishes in order to get what I want. He tells me this at every one of our sessions. I won’t go into the details at this very moment as to why voicing my desires is so hard, but—needless to say—the good doctor would be very happy with the way I’d handled Pet-gate.

No sooner had I pat myself on the back, did I begin dreading what I’d soon experience at work. Admitting to myself that my relationship had failed was one thing. The thought of having to deliver the news to my co-workers was another. I’d feel inept. I’d feel like a failure.

I know, I know. There’s no reason to feel the way. The women in my nursing unit have always been supportive of me—cheering me on and providing a shoulder for nearly a decade. But this situation was different. This wasn’t a battle with an uncooperative doctor. This wasn’t my annoyance with my slothful older brother. always worked diligently to present a perfect personal life. Now I’d be forced to admit that my life had fallen apart. Tonight, my colleagues would discover that the emperor had no clothes. Those thoughts, however, were abruptly interrupted.

It suddenly began to rain—no, not rain. It suddenly began to pour. I couldn’t see a thing. I turned on the windshield wipers, but the rain can down too hard for even their highest speed. The next 20 seconds were a blur. I heard the sounds of tires screeching. I felt the unexpected surprise of a loud car horn. And I saw red break lights.

Crash.