The week after…
…never really had time to look back at what happened at Mehrang (or was it Marang, I forget).
But at last had some time to look at the pics I took of the accident site and am slowly remembering what that happened. The accident is still evident on me…bruises, scrapes and a balloon on the end of my right leg. Ive already had a permanent small swelling on my ankle from past injuries which was taking its time to decrease… guess it’ll just be bigger now. Maybe I was too hasty about discharging from the hospital… maybe most of us were, but the month is honestly just too short.
How did it happen? While I slept i was flung from my seat and from dreamland. As i moved as if in slow motion across the space, i remember hearing sounds of wood breaking and also wondering whether this was real. Upon impact with chair in front, disbelief quickly changed to…. “wow, its really happening… my first accident”Then the second crash against bus happened and that was when i felt the excruciating pain but could not do anything but sit back in silence while i heard everything going on around me - the groans, the disbelief, someone threatening to vomit, calls for help. My mind pulled out pictures of horrifying fire and explosions happening, but all these were at the back of my head… the main thought at the forefront being “PAIIIINNNNNNNNN and where the hell are my glasses???”
Id lost my glasses and hated not having it. A few of the least injured ones (at that time they seemed so), went around helping the ones in pain trying to offer comfort and support. Most of us were stuck inside as the bus door was smashed in, and the emergency door wouldnt open until the key to it was produced adn used. After what seemed a time, two colleagues were taken away in ambulance and then after more waiting we made it to the jetty.
When the ferry broke down half way to the island, we were really starting to think it just wasnt our day. But made it to Redang at last, we did.
And got terribly sunburnt I did. And a few cuts and grazes from dead corals and shells at Marine Park. My nose hasnt peeled yet like it usually does, but my thighs look as though a few blood vessels reached boiling point and just burst - a first for me.
Eveything that happened made us all huddle a little closer together. At least a lot more than if the accident hadnt happened.
For the first couple of hours, we wouldnt wander far from the group…cos even though we attempted lighthearted banter and humour…inside i think we were all still shaken to the core… and just intent on sticking close to the main herd for who knows really what reason…support or reassurance that if we stumbled, someone close by was looking out for us and would come to aid.
Trengganu was still a long way from home at that time.
Its been a week since it happened. And I thinkwe’ve all kind of made a tentative agreement that as soon as everyone was back with us, we’d have a gathering… to re-assess what that happened to us, was happening with us and be thankful that everyone made it back to home base (and of coz, CSI a little…the bus driver said he was swerving to avoid something….yea, my foot!).
