Exam S1 Story Flashcards
An Ambulance…
An ambulance screeches to a halt outside the hospital, it’s blue lights flashing and sirens blaring. I sprint over to the back door of the ambulance as the paramedic’s heave it open. It’s not him. I let out a sigh, ‘Where is he? I need to see him. To make sure he’s ok.’ Another ambulance pulls up right beside the first. The doors open and they roll Jacko out of the ambulance, a sheet covering him, blotches of deep red blood growing bigger on the sheet. So much blood.
what if..
‘What if he doesn’t make it?’ I walk next to him all the way to the ER, trying to assure him everything will be ok, but not really believing it. I paste a smile on my face and ask him, “How are you feeling Jacko?”
“I’ve been better.” He responds weakly. I smile, “Shane mate, tell me what happened. It’s all a blur to me and I need to know how I got here.” Jacko pleads.
“Mate I don’t think that’s the-“
“Please Shane. I’m begging you.” Jacko’s eyes yearnful for the truth.
“Only for you.” I concede.
It was…
“It was 5:30 and the sun was just coming up, the bright streaks of orange and red framed the crystal-clear water. We were at our cove and the waves were huge. It really was a perfect morning. Your blonde hair was blowing in the wind as you turned around the sun over your right shoulder. Man, it looked like you were in a movie.”
Jacko laughs.
I chucked…
“I chucked my wetsuit on, and you tested the water, it was freezing, like always. You shouted eagerly “There are so many fish here man. Can we try and catch one before we go out?” “You were so excited. You reminded me of a kid on Christmas day opening the biggest present under the tree. We put our boards down and tried our hardest to catch fish with our bare hands. I don’t know why we thought that was a good idea, but I didn’t see you stop smiling once. Constant laughter filled the air, the sound of pure joy. The fish were terrified of us, they saw us as the predator, but we were just having fun.”
Jacko chuckles, he’s trying to keep the mood light, but I can tell he’s forcing it.
Once we…
“Once we had failed miserably to catch a fish, we raced back to our boards, and you only just beat me. I said you cheated but you just laughed in my face. We grabbed our boards, still laughing.”
‘I knew that if I stopped talking, I would break down, I couldn’t do that to him, especially now. I want to go back. Back to when I was innocent to the terrors of 15 minutes earlier.’
“We headed out to our home, open sea. By this time, it was about 7:00 and we had paddled further out than we normally do and honestly, something didn’t sit right with me around this time, if I’d known what was to happen, I would’ve asked to paddle back in, but you were loving it.”
A frown forms on Jacko’s face, he knows what’s coming.
I had…
“I had just caught a gnarly wave all the way into shore but just as I jumped off my board…”
I trail off, my voice breaking. My eyes are like dams, ready to burst. I don’t know how long I can hold back the waterfall of tears. “Come on mate, for me.” Jacko pleads, his face, longing for an explanation.
you screamed…
“You screamed. A gut-wrenching scream. The world stopped spinning. My world stopped spinning. Its colour stripped. The once radiant rays of orange and red faded into obscurity. Time stopped and my eyes locked on to the turbulent water. I heard myself scream,” “Jacko!” and the adrenaline took over. I got on my board, frantically paddling towards all the splashing. Fear and dread overwhelmed me. As I paddled closer, flashes of grey kept surfacing. There was an obvious struggle, coming from both you and the shark, but it looked as if it were winning the battle. You must’ve kicked it and it retreated.
As the…
As the carnage around you settled, the once clear water had become a crime scene. The water a deep and horrifying crimson. I heaved you onto the front of my board and started to frantically paddle in. Luckily, we caught a wave, and rode it back to shore. As soon as I could touch the floor, I jumped off the board, sprinted to our stuff and got my phone to call an ambulance.”
The sharp…
The sharp sound of what little privacy we had being stripped from us interrupts my recount. “Sorry if I’m interrupting anything boys,” The doctor says awkwardly, “but I’m afraid you’ll have to step out now, I have to deliver some news to Jack.”
Jacko feebly protests, “No. He stays. He’s family.”
“Alright then.” The doctor continues, “Your injuries are very severe. The shark has taken over 60% of your right calf and there is a twenty-centimetre laceration around your abdomen. We need to operate now. The theatre is being prepped as we speak.”
Jacko looks…
Jacko looks over to me for comfort, but its not for him, and we both know that. One single tear slowly slips down his cheek, and his eyes convey a sense of resignation.
He struggles to say, “We’ve had a great run, man. But I think mine has come to an end.” His voice voice breaks, “I love you man.”
‘This cannot be happening right now.’ “Don’t say that!” The dam I tried so hard to hold back breaks, and the waterfall of tears runs free. I grip his hand tightly, “You’re my best friend, my whole world.
I love you Jacko.”
The heart monitor flatlines. Doctors crowd around him. I’m pushed to the background. I know there is no saving him. I go numb. The only thing I can see is Jacko, on that beach, having the time of his life, trying desperately to catch a fish. Not knowing he himself with end up being that fish.
