“I checked your injury and cleaned it as much as possible, but it probably needs medical attention?”
“Guess that will have to wait. Look, I’m not sure I can stand up, but I might be able to roll over on my knees and crawl.” He did so with a small groan and then stopped.
“Are you okay? Can you move off the mattress?”
“I don’t know. I… catch my breath. It’s going black. I’m sorr…”
When his body went limp, Tara quickly pushed him back on the mattress so he wouldn’t pass out on the cold floor. Once she recognized he was out for a while, she grabbed the edge of the mattress and pulled as hard as she could. If she wiggled it to the side, it moved. Quickly, dropping it to move to the other side, she did the same and it dawned on her that the few inches were gained because she went side to side rather than trying to pull him straight ahead.
Needing a break, her back screaming from the effort, she stood and reached her arms skyward and then behind her to relieve the sore muscles. Within minutes, her body realigned itself and she seemed fine. Using the light again, having turned it off to save her battery, she saw that she had moved him quite a few inches, and they were now closer to the kitchen.
Surveying the opening, she hoped the mattress would be able to clear the sides. Then she saw the wooden frame at the bottom of the doorway they’d used to separate the linoleums and knew it might give her trouble as it sat a few inches higher than the floor.
Anger making her stronger, and ignoring her weak knee, she kicked at the separator and was thrilled when the rotted wood gave away easily to her force. Good! She felt like beating on something and this old timber became her newest target. Soon, she’d cleared it enough and returned to see that her patient remained in dreamland.
She had to giggle when the puppy decided to nestle close to her hero rather than stay beside her. Maybe the kicking scared her? But it had to be done. Coaxing the little minx back into her arms, she stopped long enough to give her a few pets and kisses before she went back to work.
Again, she gripped the same edges of the mattress to pull it through the doorway. Clearly, it wouldn’t work. Not like this. Not with a body on top.
Sinking to the floor in exhaustion, she didn’t realize she’d let out a sob until the man reached his hand toward her and said, “It’s okay, honey. I’m back. I see you’ve gotten me this far. I think I can crawl to where you want me to go if you can help me?”
He rolled to his knees and with herculean effort started through the doorway. Once cleared, he sat with his hands clutching his knees, his whole body shaking from the effort he’d just made.
Not taking any chances, Tara quickly rolled the thin old mattress and shoved and pulled it through the doorway and then spread it out beside her sufferer in case he collapsed again. She’d never be able to haul him around, but with him on the padding, it could work as it did before. It wasn’t a long way to the safe corner.
“Do you need to rest? If so, please lay back on here.”
He looked up as if to grin at her and the next thing she knew, he started falling face forward. Thankfully, she was able to guide him onto the soft landing she’d so carefully put beside him. It took a while to place all his limbs on the mattress, but eventually, she persevered until he lay safe again.
Stopping for another trip outside for more water, and a few bites from the nature bar she’d removed from her pocket, she shared it with the investigating puppy, who’d spent as much time licking her man’s face as she did jumping up on Tara. Having eaten the little bit of nourishment made Tara feel stronger.
Thankful for not being alone, yet praying the stranger had no serious outcomes from his injuries and frustrated for not being able to call anyone for help, she worked hard at sliding her friend to safety.
***
Soon, Tara lifted the cloth to see the swelling. The bit of light shining from the streetlamp through the window cut the darkness where they’d settled. The bleeding had started again, probably because of his earlier activities. The material had begun to dry in place and there were areas where it adhered to the injury. Places she itched to clean and remove the dried gore.
Though not having any medical training, now that it had stopped bleeding, she sensed it was best to wash the wound and let the air at it. With his head able to rest on the clean surface, she’d rather not leave it wrapped. When she shared her thoughts, he agreed.
“I’m not sure I can move you. Will you be able to help me?”
“I’ll try.” He struggled to a sitting position and wavered in place until she braced him against the wall.
The undamaged floor in here had helped her slide the mattress to an alcove where it seemed that the circling walls would give them more protection. Plus, the dirty windows above let in a bit more lamplight from the street. If only she could stand the door in place to stop the freezing air from flowing in, she’d be happier.
Using all her strength, she dragged the broken old plywood thing over from where it had fallen and propped it up to cover the opening. It wasn’t perfect but it was better.
As the night had progressed the thermometer had dropped. She’d bet the temperature now registered below zero. Wanting to check the weather on her phone, she refrained. After all, no matter what it showed, she’d have to deal, so knowing wouldn’t solve anything and saving the battery was paramount.
His voice suddenly reached her. “As crippling as it is to lie on, we’re lucky there’s a mattress. The floor is brutal. Come and sit next to me here.” He sounded stronger and made sense in his suggestion. He even picked up the puppy to cuddle and patted the area beside him. “Poor little doll didn’t know what she let herself in for following me yesterday. It’s still Friday, right?”
“Yes. You were only out for a short while each time. Look, you need to lay down. I’m sure you over-extended yourself earlier. The info in my first aid course said to keep you lying down with your head and shoulders slightly elevated and to stop the bleeding. Instead, you moved and brought on another collapse. I’m sorry you had to do so to help me. I truly wouldn’t have been able to shift you alone.”
Fixated, he repeated, “I can’t take up the whole mattress; it’s too cold for you to be kneeling on the damp floor.”
“It’s fine… ahh… I just realized; I don’t know your name.”
“Oliver Farthington. My friends call me Ollie. And yours?”
“Tara Barlow. Usually, I say it’s nice to meet you, but under the circumstances, I’m not sure it’s appropriate.”
Oliver chuckled. “You could be right. Look, I feel terrible taking up the whole mattress.”
Again, with the mattress! “It’s fine. I have my suitcase to sit on, and I can take some of my clothes out and use them for padding.” So, saying, she rolled over the bag and opened it to remove a couple of thick sweaters which she placed where his head and shoulders would be. Next, she sat down on the suitcase near him. “Please, lay back down. I don’t know if I can get help for you now that the storm is raging so terribly. You mustn’t make yourself any sicker.”
Tara reached into her stash in the backpack and pulled out a couple of the nature bars, passing one to her new friend. “You must be starved.”