Trauma

It was a normal day, as I was rolling back home in my four-wheeler. I was tired out from the day's work and craving for some much needed sleep. I was only a few more blocks from home and I was begining to plan what I'd do upon reaching home. My throat was parch dry.

As I rolled down the hill, to my horror, a puppy, loosed from her leash, ran directly in front of my wheels and I could not stop in time. Instantly I heard the horrifying yelp from the pup. My heart stop. My brake had already screeched to a stop. A million thoughts flooded my head in that milisecond. Part of me wanted to run from fear that it was some psycho owner who might not let me live. But the pup's cries overcame any doubt I had and I rushed out to it's aid. It's master was already running out and carried her. Blood was dripping and the young girl who held her was close to panic tears. I held the pup and checked for damage, relief that the girl had not yet pounce on me. The pup's back leg only was bleeding and the wound was wide open till the bones were jutting out. Again fear overcame me - if it was broken, it could be for life. Abandoning the thought of water and sleep, I brought the girl and her dog towards my car and we sped of towards the only vet I know.

The journey was slow and painful. As the pup continued to howl in pain, I felt beats of sweat forming on my forehead. The girl tried profusely to calm the pup down as I zip down the road. Traffic was at its worst. There was nothing more I could do but talk to the girl and pray. Not sure what to pray for I spoke in tongues. After about 20 minutes the pup calmed down and started looking around curiously. Thank God it didn't pass out from tireness or pain. My dad, out of sheer worry, caught up with me midway. Unfortunately, it only gave me more pressure as I drove. We were crawling along. i kept glancing at the pup to make sure it was doing ok.

It was an hour after the incident that we finally arrived at the vet. Like a scene from ER, we rushed her right into the operating room. The doc calmly decided that it was of no urgency to attend to the pup immediately. Patiently, he finished with his patient before attending to our pup. I decided I had to be there for the whole process - for moral support, to take responsibility, and whatever else. The doc began clearing the wound and analyzing the damage. The blood and gore was way over my head. It smelt bad. The pup had began whining again though it had already been sedated. I could almost feel the pain. The doc proclaimed that no bones were broken and I silently praise God. He began stitching up the wound and advising the girl on what should be expected next.

Before I knew it, dizziness washed over me and I grappled for balance. Vision and sound was slowly snatched from me as I found myself toppling downwards. The girl and dad caught me before I hit ground. Yes I fainted - from stress? from blood? All of it I guess. I could barely make out that I was being led outside to the benches where I could get away from the scene and rest. Feeling rather embarassed, I remained on the bench long after the dizziness left. I wonder how many people have actually fainted there before? Some time later, the dog was being carried out in nice new bandages and a con for it's head. Dad drove home and we began to chat some more with the world. It truly is a small world after all when we discovered how we were connected. Exchanging contacts and well-wishes we parted ways.

I guess it was traumatic for both me and the pup.