Two Lights

It was just two lights, two lights that changed my life forever all because someone decided to drink and drive.

            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.