ER

The boy on his bike came from behind a large tree. Suddenly he cycled off the sidewalk onto the bicycle path, just 2 meters in front of me. I braked with all force I had in me. My bicycle stopped, I didn’t. I landed head first, flat on my face, with my hands still holding my handle bar. A bit like diving into a pool without water. Fortunately I was wearing a helmet, that took part of the impact.

´Monsieur, vous Ítes correct ?ª
´Non…ª

Passing doctor on bike examins me.

Ambulance, but no siren.

Emergency room, long wait. 20 X-rays, multiple times because the processing machine ate first batch of films. Nothing broken, only bruises and chafed skin on face and fore arms. Nose swollen and glasses scratched and deformed. And I don’t have the name or phone number of that kid to make him (or his parents) pay for my expenses.

Left the ER after more than 7 hours.

But it could have been far worse.