Narrative

                It still feels like yesterday, hearing the screech from the tires and the loud crash and bang, my heart dropped. It all started one warm October day in 2008. All I wanted to do was get home from school and go for a ride.

            Two days prior I had finally taken my driver’s test. I passed with a 100%, not a single mark off. I knew I was a good driver and my driving test had proven that. I told everyone I passed with flying colors and how proud of myself I was! Nothing could stop me; I was finally able to drive. Later that day after my test my father took me to the BMV to get my identification card, which made having my license even more exciting and real.

            My sister-in-law had sold me her 1999 black Volkswagen Jetta for a very low cost. I had my eye on that car from the day that I met her. I loved it I was so ecstatic to find it was finally going to be mine! Between having the car and my license, I felt invincible. Now to just get out there and drive on my own, problem was, my parents would not let me drive the car until I drove it with them. See, I had never driven the car; I was used to my mother’s Ford Explorer which sat up high and had rather easy brakes to work with.

            That day I came home from school amped up and ready to go. I just wanted to drive! My brother had told me if I was going to take the car out I better have it home before my parents got home from work and busted me. Although, he really did not think I should take it for a drive against my parent’s wishes. But I of course did not listen.

            I had decided to go to the mall and take my friend Taylor, so I hopped on the highway to save time and make it home before my parent’s. Little did I know how terrible of a choice that was about to end up being. Everything was going great, the traffic was moving along nicely. Lanes were easy to switch in and out of. I had this locked down, nothing could stop me. I came up on the Polaris Parkway exit; I switched lanes to get off. All four lanes were completely backed up. After waiting in traffic for a good while I decided I was going to switch lanes and take Gemini instead. I turned on my turn signal and prepared to get into the other lane. I checked my blind spot, the coast was clear. Things were about to go downhill from there.

            While checking if it was clear to get over I forgot to check what the cars in front of me were doing. As I started to switch lanes I heard “SHANNON!!” come from Taylor’s mouth. I looked forward just in time so smash right into the back of the car ahead of me, might I mention was a seven series BMW. I have never heard such a loud noise in my life. My air bags had deployed hitting me with the most excruciating force that knocked my glasses off and sent them flying into the back seat. All I could see were the powered particles floating in the air from the air bags, and the smashed up hood of my car. I was devastated.

            I began to scream and cry in panic. I remember asking Taylor, “Are you okay?” and “Where’s my phone? Where’s my phone? I need to call my mom!”

            Taylor looked to floor and found my phone. I called my mom screaming and crying. She asked what was wrong and I knew I was going to get into so much trouble. I began to tell her what had happened. Call it mothers intuition but she knew moments before I called her something was not right. She said she just had this feeling overcome her and she knew something was wrong.

            “Well did you check to make sure the people in the other car are okay?” my mother asked me.

I had not even though of that, I was just worried about myself and being in trouble. As I got out of the car I saw it was not just a little car accident. I had hit the BMW, which had hit a Honda, which then hit a Sunfire. I was horrified I had no clue that I had hit more than one car. Boy was I in trouble now. I proceeded to ask the woman in the BMW if she was okay and if she had contacted the police. I just remember the anger in her voice, “YES! I already called them!” After that moment I was not sure what to do, I just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. I walked back to my car and got in to wait for the police.

I could hear the sirens rushing down the road behind me. Both the police and fire department had arrived. The paramedics came out and asked everyone if they were okay. With this came the only laugh I had from the whole situation. He asked Taylor is she was injured, her only response was, “Do you have a band-aid? I think I broke my nail…” I was grateful for the quick moment of humor.

Then I was brought back to reality when the officer asked if I would step out of the car. I was so scared of what would happen next. Then my mom arrived, I turned and ran to her crying. She walked my back to her truck and asked me to wait while she spoke with the officer. The two called me back over. The cop handed me my ticket for unsure clear stopping distance and said I would need to be in court and two weeks. He pointed at the ticket and said “Sign here”, in that moment I began to ball my eyes out. My heart sank. I had my license for two days before they were ripped from my hands.

            We then waited for the tow truck to come and load up my car. Then reality set in, I had to go home and talk to my dad. He would not even look my in the eyes. That’s when you know my father in royally pissed off. He walked straight upstairs and did not even speak to me. I was in a lot of trouble. My dad would not talk to me until the following day.

            Once home from work, my dad sat down with me and told me he was disappointed in me for going against their wishes, although, he was very grateful that I managed to not get hurt. Now my dad tells me he waited so that he did not have to yell at me he could speak to me in a calm manner.

            Two weeks later, I went to court where they told me the bad news. I had lost my license for six months. The judge told me I was allowed to drive with my parents. Great. I have my temps again like a child, was my only thought. I could have gotten them back if it was less than six months if I was going to be turning seventeen before that time was up. Sadly I had to wait the whole six months.

            I drive with so much caution ever since that day. It took me a year to even be able to drive on the highway again. The memory was imprinted into my brain and it was something I could not forget. I was petrified to drive on the highway. I now take my parents advice strongly into consideration. I try to listen to them rather than my brother. That accident was by far one of the worst days in my life thus far.