The impact was like a thunderclap, a deafening roar that echoed in my ears. I felt myself being thrown through the air, my body twisting and tumbling in the path of the oncoming truck. And then, with a sickening thud, everything went black.
When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by a blur of faces. I heard voices shouting, the sound muffled and distant. Pain radiated through every inch of my body, sharp and intense. I tried to move, but every movement sent waves of agony crashing over me.
"Stay still, kid," someone said, their voice barely audible over the ringing in my ears.
I tried to focus, to make sense of what was happening. I saw people rushing around me, their faces a mixture of concern and urgency. But it was all hazy, like I was watching from a distance, disconnected from reality.
And then, with a final surge of pain, everything faded away.
When I woke up again, I was lying in a white room, the harsh light blinding me. I blinked, trying to orient myself. Where was I? What had happened?
I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy, like it was made of lead. I looked around, but there was no one else in the room. Just me, lying alone on the cold, sterile floor.
Panic started to rise in my chest. What had happened to the little girl? Was she okay? And what about me? Had I... died?
The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to push it away, to focus on something, anything else. But the fear lingered, a dark shadow in the back of my mind.
I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I needed to stay calm, to figure out what was going on. But as I lay there in the silence, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be.
And as the minutes ticked by, the sense of unease only grew stronger.