A Terrible Bike Accident

Having just bought a new bicycle for my birthday, I spent that afternoon practicing my stunts. I called my neighbour who is also my best friend to accompany me into a multi-storey car park adjacent to my block of flats. The place was deserted and cars seldom entered and left in the afternoon. I and my friend, Stamford, thought it was safe to try my stunts. Pedalling furiously, we zoomed up the slope. When we reached the top, I spun around on one wheel and zoomed down again. Stamford did the same, but much better. Screeching to a stop at the bottom, I made another spin in midair and raced up again to show off to Stamford. I was enjoying myself too much that I was drowned in the adrenaline which made me ignorant to the drone of an engine on the third floor. I had just reached the top slope again when a shadow fell over me. All I remember was hearing Stamford yelling,”watch out!” and the screeching of brakes. Some time elapsed because when I opened my eyes, I found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a stranger. I also found myself lying on the concrete floor of the car park and about 5 metres away from the car. At the time, I did not know that he was a paramedic. I tried to sit up and noticed the maroon car at the top of the slope. Everything came rushing back to me. I asked the man if the driver was all right. I was overwhelmed by a sense of dread when he told me that the elderly driver was so shocked when he saw me that he had a heart attack at the wheel. I guess Stamford was so scared that he would get into trouble as he was part of this and he rode his bicycle away in guilt. I grabbed the man’s hand and forced myself to stand up. Everything around me was spinning and i felt a warm liquid trickling out from my nose, but i ignored everything. All i could think of was the old driver. Just then, i saw the paramedics gently move his limp body away from the steering wheel, lift him out of the car and rush towards the ambulance. The driver’s family members kept vigil outside the intensive care unit. I did not dare go near them for i knew they already had spoken to the police and the paramedics. One of them even yelled that i had a flagrant disregard for safety when they saw me walking towards them. Exhausted and overwrought, i left the hospital. I found out later that the driver was in a coma for several weeks before regaining consciousness. Till this day, i do not know if he has completely recovered. I feel guilty because of my carelessness it almost cost someone else’s life. I am just glad that his family members did not press charges against me.