As most of you know, I was born in Show Low and lived
there till I was in third grade. The summer when I was in second grade my
cousin came and visited me and my family. I always loved it when he came and
visited us. He was like an older brother to me. One night my mom and dad
decided that it would be a good idea to order pizza and have a movie night. At
the time we lived in Vernon; so we had to drive to Show Low to pick up the
pizza my parents had ordered. They had asked my cousin to drive into town to
pick it up. I really wanted to go with him. I begged and begged until I had
gotten my way. My mother did make us take this old 1950’s dodge that was made
of complete steel.
On the way to Show Low, I was already getting tired. I
remember the ride there perfectly. The sun was just about to go down over the
mountains in the horizon and there were a few clouds in the sky. I remember
looking up at the clouds at one point and I swear that I saw the words “love
you” written in the sky. I didn’t point it out to my cousin because I didn’t think
anything of it at that point.
On the way back from Show Low, it was completely dark. We
were driving on just a two lane road. I don’t remember that ride home that
much. I remember is almost falling asleep and then it happened. Two lights
appeared in front of my cousin and me out of nowhere. It’s all black after
that. I remember the sound of the crash. I do not remember what it looked like
though. Then, next thing I knew, I was lying on the back of a stranger’s bed of
their truck just screaming, “I want my daddy! I want my daddy!” I had no idea
what had just happened. Everything was fine that entire night.
My dad appeared next to me and he was crying. That was
the only time I had ever seen him cry.
I was taken to the hospital after and luckily I walked
away from the accident with just a broken collar bone. The officers that reported to the accident that night told my parents that it's a miracle that my cousin and I survived that crash. I later found out that
the guy that had hit me and my cousin was a drunk driver. His girlfriend had
just broken up with him so he went to a bar to get drunk, then upon leaving he
decided that he wanted to kill himself, my cousin and I just happened to be
that solution.
I guess my entire reason for this is to share to everyone
that drinking and driving is never alright. I’m not saying to not ever drink
because that would be hypocritical of me. Just be smart when you do drink. It
is because of that guy’s reckless decision that I have anxiety whenever I am on
a two lane road and if I get close to being in an accident I break down and
cry. Just think before your decisions.
