now? This has never happened before. Once I tell people about myself they turn and run for the nearest exit. “I think it’s your turn now,” I smile at him and he laughs. “I was expecting that,” he smiles back at me and I almost melt. I never imagined sitting in the moonlight on the beach with a guy I don’t even know could make me feel so alive. “Well, what is it you want to know?” he asks with his eyes closed. I admire the blue view, of him, “I never got anything from you the other day except your birthday, and I’d like to know a bit more.”
“Shoot,” he says but his voice is not so relaxed anymore. I start with the question that I asked him last time. “Who is favourite artist for real this time please?” Someone screams blue murder and the sound of it makes me feel sick. Alex and I both jump up and run back toward the tent in the direction from which the sound came. Cold sweat is forming on my forehead and I breathe in deeply to try and calm my terrified heart. A few people are crowding around the tree Sarah smoked at earlier and Alex pushes his way forward to the middle. I follow him; I do not know what else to do. A man lies flat on his back on the ground. Alex bends down next to the man, “Matthew,” is the only word he says and then he closes his eyes. Alex works quickly feeling his neck and chest and then looks me in the eyes, “phone an ambulance,” he says firmly. I walk away from the noise and call the ambulance. They need to come from Marshall’s hospital and it’s at least a twenty five minute drive. I am assured that the ambulance is leaving right away. I fight my way back to the man and Alex again. Someone has a flashlight shining on them now and Alex is busy doing CPR on him. “It’s coming,” I say and I think he nods once but I’m not sure, he just continues with the pumping on the chest with his hands and breathing into the man’s mouth. It’s a scary sight and I realise then how precious life is.
The music is still going full blast and the few people remaining are partying oblivious to the nightmarish scene in front of us. I feel so helpless, a few more people have joined the group but it is Alex doing all he can to breathe life back into this man. The ambulance arrives about half an hour after I called them and Alex hands over to the medics. He is absolutely exhausted and sinks into a chair next to a red table. I switched off the music by then and last people are packing up to leave. I hand Alex a coke to give him some energy. “May I have the key to your car? I need to pack up the equipment.” I ask and he gets to his feet to help me. “No no, you just sit here for a while, I have packed up these things many times before,” I say and he sits down without saying a word. I walk to the parking lot with a laptop hanging from my shoulders and I press the alarm button on Alex’s keys. A big white Audi Q7 bleeps to life and I walk over to it. The hair on my arms are standing up at the unbelievable scene that just took place. This man knows Matthew but obviously didn’t know that Alex wasn’t Matthew. I quickly pack up Matt’s speakers and laptop, walk back to Alex and sit down on a chair opposite him. “Do you know him?” he asks tiredly.
“No, but I will ask Lin tomorrow.” He just stares at nothing and my mind is asking ten million questions a second. I know people who do a first aid course can do CPR but he did so much more in the short time I know of him.
“Why do you know how to do CPR?” I ask and I see him frown.
“Hey, I was just curious, I mean you probably saved a life tonight,” He takes a deep breath and his shoulders slouch a little as he breathes out. “Lane, I didn’t want you to know because it will change everything and I think you should first get to know me better before you judge me.” I do know very little of him but what I know I like, a lot, and I am sure it can’t be worse than the list of nightmares I named a while ago.
“Shoot,” he says but his voice is not so relaxed anymore. I start with the question that I asked him last time. “Who is favourite artist for real this time please?” Someone screams blue murder and the sound of it makes me feel sick. Alex and I both jump up and run back toward the tent in the direction from which the sound came. Cold sweat is forming on my forehead and I breathe in deeply to try and calm my terrified heart. A few people are crowding around the tree Sarah smoked at earlier and Alex pushes his way forward to the middle. I follow him; I do not know what else to do. A man lies flat on his back on the ground. Alex bends down next to the man, “Matthew,” is the only word he says and then he closes his eyes. Alex works quickly feeling his neck and chest and then looks me in the eyes, “phone an ambulance,” he says firmly. I walk away from the noise and call the ambulance. They need to come from Marshall’s hospital and it’s at least a twenty five minute drive. I am assured that the ambulance is leaving right away. I fight my way back to the man and Alex again. Someone has a flashlight shining on them now and Alex is busy doing CPR on him. “It’s coming,” I say and I think he nods once but I’m not sure, he just continues with the pumping on the chest with his hands and breathing into the man’s mouth. It’s a scary sight and I realise then how precious life is.
The music is still going full blast and the few people remaining are partying oblivious to the nightmarish scene in front of us. I feel so helpless, a few more people have joined the group but it is Alex doing all he can to breathe life back into this man. The ambulance arrives about half an hour after I called them and Alex hands over to the medics. He is absolutely exhausted and sinks into a chair next to a red table. I switched off the music by then and last people are packing up to leave. I hand Alex a coke to give him some energy. “May I have the key to your car? I need to pack up the equipment.” I ask and he gets to his feet to help me. “No no, you just sit here for a while, I have packed up these things many times before,” I say and he sits down without saying a word. I walk to the parking lot with a laptop hanging from my shoulders and I press the alarm button on Alex’s keys. A big white Audi Q7 bleeps to life and I walk over to it. The hair on my arms are standing up at the unbelievable scene that just took place. This man knows Matthew but obviously didn’t know that Alex wasn’t Matthew. I quickly pack up Matt’s speakers and laptop, walk back to Alex and sit down on a chair opposite him. “Do you know him?” he asks tiredly.
“No, but I will ask Lin tomorrow.” He just stares at nothing and my mind is asking ten million questions a second. I know people who do a first aid course can do CPR but he did so much more in the short time I know of him.
“Why do you know how to do CPR?” I ask and I see him frown.
“Hey, I was just curious, I mean you probably saved a life tonight,” He takes a deep breath and his shoulders slouch a little as he breathes out. “Lane, I didn’t want you to know because it will change everything and I think you should first get to know me better before you judge me.” I do know very little of him but what I know I like, a lot, and I am sure it can’t be worse than the list of nightmares I named a while ago.
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