FACE CRASH
It was sunny but cloudy, one of those weird weather days where everything was bathed in an ethereal half glow. Great billowing pillows of cloud skirted across the sky, but the sun’s great blades still managed to slice their way through to the world below.
He had spent the morning cleaning his yard but the good graces of Spring finally put an end to it. The birds were singing cheerfully in the sky and the earth itself seemed to be pulsating with the life surging efforts of flowers and grass. He had put in a good morning of work, and now it was time to enjoy a bit of the warmer weather promised by the changing seasons.
He hopped on his bike, anxious to feel the hum of tires on asphalt, the soft crunch of leftover road sand below. He raced down the hill, legs pumping furiously as the speed of the bike surpassed his own abilities.
He rocketed onward and gently applied the brakes as he zoomed towards a sharp bend in the road. The bike wobbled as he leaned into a corner and his entire body seized up as he felt the back end slowly drift out on a blanket of loose debris.
The tires connected with the solid concrete curb, one after another in rapid succession, and he felt himself defying the natural laws of physics. One minute he was leaning into the corner, the next he was being catapulted out of it.
He watched as the ground receded below and caught a brief shiny glimpse of his bike pirouetting through the air, its front tire bouncing wildly back and forth through the air.
He hit the ground hard and felt the air crush from his lungs. He choked on the seizing muscles for a moment, then finally regained his breath. The bright sunny blue world had turned the colour of a bruise, and he closed his eyes for a moment to let his eyes adjust.
He should have worn his helmet. He had meant to grab it, but the call to adventure had been too great. A wash of dizziness poured over him and he grimaced again.
He tried to stand up, but his legs weren’t quite willing to cooperate.
It took him a moment to notice the young man standing over him. “Dude, that was awesome,” the kid said.
He acknowledged him with a warm stream of vomit over the shoes. Face twisted in a mask of sickened disgust, the kid retreated.
He wasn’t sure how long it had been, but an ambulance finally arrived on the scene and the attendants quickly set about examining him.
The puking had been funny, but he would never venture out without his helmet again. He was getting way to old to be performing comedic, public face plants.
