Car+Accident

The rain pounded onto the windshield of my small black Saturn, making it very difficult for me to see. It was late, and I was driving home from a midnight premiere of a movie that my best friends and I had been waiting to see for months. I was being careful. I can honestly say that I had done everything in my power to get every one home safely but it simply wasn't that simple. As I rounded a corner I began to feel as if the car had taken on a mind of its own. I was no longer in control and I panicked. //Hydroplaning//. I knew better then to slam on the brakes. After driving for months with my dad in almost every weather condition I knew that if I even touched the brakes it would only make the situation worse. A million thoughts seemed to cross through my mind as the car drifted into the other lane. Time seemed to stand still, but as soon as I saw the headlights heading straight at me, and time seemed to move too quickly.

I slammed my hand into the horn as fast as possible trying to warn the oncoming driver that I was out of control, but it was too late. The silver Pontiac collided into the passenger side door directly into Maddie. The car immediately jerked in the other direction and I closed my eyes; afraid to see what was going to happen. I felt the car lift off the ground and begin flip through the air, but it wasn't until we hit the ground for the first time that the airbag exploded towards my face protecting my head from hitting the steering wheel like it would have. For the first time since the car began to hydroplane I heard screaming, and whether it was my own or Alice's I still am not sure. There are a lot of things I'm not sure about that day, for example how many times the car rotated in the air before finally landing upside down, or how the only person lost in the crash was Maddie. I have no idea how long I was in the upside down car screaming for Maddie to wake up before Alice finally calmed me enough to stop the screaming.

I was told it had taken the medics only 9 minutes to get to the scene. Those nine minutes haunt my memory every day. I had tried to get out of the car, as did Alice, but it was impossible the doors were stuck closed and the throbbing pain that shot up my entire right side every time I moved indicated that I had been seriously injured. Alice was the only reason I stayed somewhat calm. She didn't cry at all until we were both lying in beds beside each other at the hospital and only then it was to mourn Maddie.

In the nine minutes I was upside down in the car I had experienced the worst nine minutes of my life. I tried unsuccessfully to awaken Maddie, and I honestly expected her to open her eyes and smile just like she always had. The picture of my best friend covered in blood and not breathing is etched into my brain forever, and I see her almost every night when I sleep.

After several minutes in the car I saw the red flashing lights to my left, and I cried out in joy. I remember calling towards Alice, because I needed to make sure she was okay, and obviously she knew what I was thinking because she again reassured me that everything was going to be okay. Those were the last things I remember, the medics told me that I had blacked out.

When I woke I was in a hospital bed directly next to Alice. She was asleep. I could tell by the steadiness of her breathing, but a nurse stood beside her bed attaching another bag to her IV. I tried to sit up, but the shot straight through my body. A moan escaped my lips, and the nurse instantly rushed to my side.

"Don't try to move Devi, you're seriously injured. "

"What happened?" I asked. I remembered the car accident but those were the only two words that I seemed to enter my head.

"You were in a car accident. Now you're in Lakemont Hospital. Your parents are here, but right now they're down in the cafe eating breakfast with Alice's parents. You have a few broken ribs, along with your leg and wrist. The doctors also believe that you have a mild concussion, but that's truly nothing to worry about. You're going to be fine."

I breathed a deep sigh of relief just from hearing her comforting words, but I knew that there were other things I had to worry about.

"Alice, " She started before I could let the question out. "Is going to be okay too, she broke her arm, and has a concussion that's just a bit worse then yours.You both have a few deep cuts from the glass that shattered but those will heal rather quickly. "

"The other car?" I was trying to postpone asking the one question that I dreaded the answer too.

"The other driver is fine, a few bumps and bruises, but luckily he wasn't seriously injured, he was released this morning."

"And Maddie?" My voice cracked as I said her name and I felt the tears begin to form in my eyes.

"I'm sorry Devi, she didn't make it."

Instantly I became hysterical, I remember sobbing, and crying out her name, partially screaming for her. I knew I must have looked insane, but honestly I don't know how anyone who lost their best friend in an accident who could stay calm. The fact that I was the one that was driving made the situation that much worse. The nurse quickly left the room and came back with a shot, in which she put into my IV. She was the last thing I saw before I went unconscious.

The moment I awoke another moan escaped my lips. I wasn't ready to face reality yet, and I was sure that once my parent knew that I had woken up they would surround me. I kept my eyes closed and tried to keep my breathing as steady as possible. After a few short moments I heard footsteps coming into my room and my fathers voice broke through the silence.

"I just got off the phone with Dr. Smith, he said that he'll be up tomorrow to talk to the girls."

"Do you really think that they need a psychiatrist?" I recognized the voice of Alice's mom.

"Amy they just lost their best friend, they can't get through this on their own." My mom.

Just then I heard a moan from across the room and sheets being ruffled I turned my heads towards Alice's bed and opened my eyes.

"Alice..." My voice cracked making me barely audible, but luckily she heard me.

"Devi..." I could tell she wanted to say more but was interrupted by both of our families surrounding us.