My heart thunders in my chest drowning out all sound. My sweaty hands grip the leathery wheel so tightly my knuckles are white, but I can’t see them through my scrunched closed eyes. I feel my ragged, sharp breaths circulating through my body as the seconds tick by. Stomach churning, I speed down a one way road to my death. I know people say that time slows in dramatic events, but this feels like an awfully long time. I was already centimetres away from the car in front of me when I closed my eyes but, as I peel my eyelids open, I realise I am still there.

All around me, everything is frozen. The people are statue like in busy poses, hair caught still in the air. Splashes of water from a stomped in puddle float like perfect pearls of muddy water midair, and birds hover, trapped in their soaring positions. It is deafeningly silent.

I release my moist hands from the steering wheel and open the door. Stepping outside, I take in the scene around me. Everything is rigid and silent, and it feels like I am in a dream. My mouth is hanging wide open as I stare out at this surreal world. Endless questions flood my mind as I begin to wonder. Not paying attention to my direction, I explore the curiosities of my surroundings. My fingers lightly brush across everything near me and I let my senses take over. The air is still but I can faintly smell the scents of the world around me, fresh bread when passing the bakery, flowers when strolling through the park and rich aromas wafting outside from the perfumery. The city is so strange, yet so much the same.

Finally, I find myself outside of the hospital. I don’t know what brought me here, but something did. Half of me tells me to go back, to try and start time again, but the other half is curious and wants to go inside to possibly find out why my instinct took me here. I pause for a moment, before turning around to walk away, but I just can’t ignore my curiosity. I go in.

As I step inside, I experience the mood of the hospital. Everything is vivid and in great detail. Some people wait patiently with babies and children and lovers, others argue with the staff. Everything is so still, yet in my mind the scene comes to life and I can see all the movement and hear every word. It is almost like a flashback, a memory, but I’ve never had to go to the hospital before. My head is starting to throb and I am beginning to stumble around, following an unknown path. I end up walking into some random room that is empty, but in my mind’s eye I can see people standing there, waiting for me. I am dizzy and can’t think properly, so let my body flop down on the bed, and my eyes flutter shut.

Beep, beep.

“What’s her Heart Rate?”

“96, doctor.”

“Sarah, Sarah! Can you hear me? Wake up!”

The sound of my mother’s voice catches my attention and I yank my eyes open. I immediately regret that decision though, due to the bright lights of the hospital room, and close my eyes again.

“She’s awake! She’s awake!”

I sigh and let myself fall asleep again, safe with the knowledge that I am going to be okay.