The Glassy Sky

ZACK'S MEMORY

November 27, 1993

Saturday

The wait is finally over! It's Sam's special day. It's his 8th birthday today, and my parents have decided that we should eat on a restaurant for dinner. We waited till six in the afternoon since both of them are still at work during the day. We came prepared for our attire. We just dressed the way we normally did because that's the way we liked it. Anyway, I'm not the one celebrating so we need to be prepared. We watched television since we're allowed to do so because they're not here, we watched our favorite cartoon together. Then a few moments later, it's already 6 pm and we hear the beep of the car outside. We immediately went outside to greet our parents who are excited to go and eat. "Who's hungry?" mom asked. "We are!" We replied.

We immediately went inside the car while mom locks the door on our home. I sat quietly while reading a book that dad gave me, while Sam on the other hand is playing with his favorite toy. Hours have passed and I'm so hungry I could eat an entire horse, and Sam fell asleep. "We're almost there." Dad said. I don't know where were heading, but all I know is that we're going to eat because I'm already hungry and I know Sam too is hungry. Then all of the sudden, the car breaks went loose, and it keeps accelerating. "Dad, what's happening." I asked.

"Everything's going to be alright!" he said, "Just calm down."

"How can we calm down, John?" Mother said, "We can't stop the freaking car."

"I'm doing the best I can, Dolores." Father said, "Just hang on." I was frightened and nervous, knowing the fact that this might be the last time that we're going to live, while Sam is still sleeping, he doesn't know what's happening.

"Fasten your seatbelts." Father said. We did what he said and I also fastened Sam's seatbelt, and we're bracing ourselves for an impact. We hit a giant lamp post on the park, it was a terrible accident. I suddenly woke up, knowing that I was the only one alive. I asked for help, but no one answers my call. Until a moment later, someone approached me. I was crying in fear and I felt powerless at this situation. Knowing full well that I can't do anything in my power to prevent the accident from happening. The woman who helped me immediately called for help, then ambulance came in. I asked for water, and they gave me one. Father, mother and Sam on the other hand was rushed into the hospital and they were in critical condition.

I only had a minor concussion in the head and I felt dizzy after that. While in the hospital, Aunt Elsa came in. She's my mother's only sister. "Oh dear," She asked. "Are you alright?" She's worried about all of us. "What about Sam and the others?" I asked, while crying. "Will they be alright?"

"The doctors are doing the best they could." She replied. Then three hours have passed when the doctors decided to went out of the room and said that they didn't make it. They died along the way. I was crying knowing full well that they are dead and I can't do anything in my power to prevent it from happening. What am I supposed to do now? My family's dead, and I'm the only one who survived. From that moment on, Aunt Elsa became my supporting mother. She has no children, but she took care of us as if we were her own when mom and dad are not around. We buried all three of them, and I'm still at shock and don't know what to do.

Aunt Elsa forced me to undergo counseling with a certified counseling psychologist to help me deal with the grief and despair that I felt. It took me two long month of counseling just to let all of my regrets out and feel human again. I don't know what else to do without Aunt Elsa, "It's just the two of us," She said, "we have to make the best out of it because we don't know what's going to happen to us next." I was crying because I can't help it, what she said moved me, enough to make me jerk tears in my eyes. She's right, I need to move on, because there's nothing I could do about it. I was young and powerless, and the only thing I could do is live on for their sake.