Accidentally Friendship

          I will remember this day for a long time. Not just because of what happened but because who would think that from the awful experience that a car accident can deliver, a friend could grow. Well, this is the story.

          One afternoon, like any other, I headed home after a long day at school.  As I was driving I thought, “Let's stop for a drink”. I went to Starbucks, and I ordered a drink and a piece of cake.

Then I remembered that I needed to write something for my writing class, so with nothing else to do; I grabbed a chair next to a table, got out my iPad and started writing. After a long time of being there typing and typing, finally, I was finished, with my drink and my cake. I said to myself, "Well it is time to go home and get ready for the party". I got up and headed to my car. I'm sure that nobody was ready; moreover, no one expected to make decisions in order to save their own life. Right?.

             I got out of the parking lot and headed home. As I was driving, I saw a car coming the opposite direction; I looked down to check my speed. When I set my eyes to the road again I saw the same car but this time heading directly towards me. I was traveling 40miles per hour; the driver of the red car was going at least 50miles per hour. Something was wrong; there was another car that was in the middle of the road spinning. My whole life flashed in front of my eyes. After that I said to myself, "Brake! Brake!" I shifted gears from fourth to first in seconds. Then I pushed the brake pedal as hard as I could. I could hear a noise coming out of my car and it smell like burned plastic.

             For some reason, I could not see the red car anymore. Besides the sound of my car, I suddenly heard a bigger sound. It was like metal twisting and plastic parts breaking all together. I finally got the car stopped, and I started to look around. What I saw was one car spilling a lot of gasoline and there were car pieces all over the road, but I was wondering “Where was the other car?”.

A lady across the street was looking beyond the road and I looked her direction. There was the red car, downhill smoking and the driver was still inside the car. I ran towards the car downhill and fortunately, the driver had her window down. I spoke to the driver and I said, "I will try to get you out, I just need to see if you are hurt." She replied, "My leg hurts." I got my cellphone out and I called 911. I gave them the exact location of the accident and after that I was able to open the door of the car. I carried the lady out of the smoking car and carried her up hill until she could not take another step.

            After fifteen minutes the police arrived and the policeman started asking, "What happened?" "Who saw what happened"? The same lady across the street said, "I saw what happened". The police officer looked at my car, and he said to me, "Are you all right?" I said, "Yes. I was able to brake, but she was not; and she ended downhill. I just got her out of the car because it was smoking and smelled like gasoline." After fifteen minutes, the road was closed by police cars. Then the firefighters arrived at the scene and with an enormous tool they cut the battery cables of both cars.

         Fortunately, nobody was hurt seriously, but the cars were a total waste. Two hours later tow trucks removed the two cars and all the pieces of each car. My new friend and I started talking about what happened. Suddenly she broke into tears; the only thing I did was hold her and I started saying, "Do not worry Kary. Everything is going to be fine. I know it was not your fault; we both were there. That lady of the other car was a total idiot; she did not stop when she was suppose to." The only words that came out of her mouth were, “I only wanted to go to buy groceries" I said, "I was heading home and preparing myself for a party, but we are here. We all had things to do but because of a third person our day is ruined and I know it sucks. But if you look at it this way, we all are alive. It could be worse but the most important part is I am here to help you because you do not have anybody else, and I am happy to do it".

          After a long, long time she was feeling better. I mean considering what happened. We ended up talking about other things and by looking in her eyes I could tell that the accident was no more than a past experience, a bad one but hearing her laugh was all I wanted. When finally all was cleared up, I asked her, "Where do you live? She replied "Kentucky". I said, "What are you doing here if you live there?" She said, "I mean I live here and in Kentucky; it is just that on weekdays, I live here and weekends I am there with my mom; I am sorry. I live in Hyde Park, but I do not know what bus to take". I said, ”Do not worry. I know Hyde Park. One of my friends lives there; I will take you home. Like I said we are together, right?" She was amused by my offering and she said, "But do you have things to do?" I said, “What I have to do right now is support you and help you as much as I can."

I took her home and after that we became good friends. Just yesterday we went out to have lunch and we had a lot of fun. I can say that she is doing just fine and now she is more careful when it comes to driving. After all I believe she thought the same thing, “I am still alive”.

         You know, I probably can say I am a risk taker. That is the truth when it comes to people in trouble. What can I say? I guess I care about people and not just close people or family but also any people that come into my life.

Like in this case I made a new friend... You can say by accident.

Seriously, people! Drive safely! Please if you run into a stop sign, please do the right thing. STOP even if nobody is coming. You just have to stop there for two seconds, and you can avoid something that could end with your life or others. Always obey the laws of the road. Someone will thank you.

Carlos Chavez M.