I Didn't Know (Shattered Dreams Inspired Short Story)

I Didn't Know

I didn't know.

I woke up this morning like I would any other. I put my alarm on snooze until the very last minute. And even then I stayed in bed a little longer.

I didn't know.

My mom drove me to school. On the way there we listened to the radio. She always had to hear the traffic report because she worked so far from where we live. The reporter said congestion was heavy by Sunland. There was an accident. She groaned that she was going to be late to work.

"Mom," I cried. I was aghast. How could she not be worried about the people?

"No, I mean, I hope they're okay and everything! It's just that I'm going to be late for work again."

I didn't know.

School went by like any other day. Long. Boring. But I passed a quiz. I knew I could. It was easy. Math's easy.

I didn't know.

It's Friday. I want to go out. I have some friends I'm getting real close to and we want to go to the movies and grab dinner.

"May I please go?"

"Yes."

I didn't know.

The movie was great! It was so funny and action packed. And there was even a scene where I got to see a dude's abs.

I didn't know.

I love Village Inn. It's so good here. I don't know what I like best, the hot chocolate or the burgers! I wish I could go everyday honestly.

I didn't know.

It's dark out. It's late. How long were we at Village Inn for? Hours? I didn't mean to stay out so late.

I didn't know.

I glance at the clock on the radio. 2:08 am it says. Shoot. My mom will be mad. I haven't even texted her once letting her know I'm okay. I look at my phone to see multiple messages and missed calls. I'll just say my phone was off.

I didn't know.

The last thing I didn't know was the clock read 2:09 am and that I was cold. Someone... someone is screaming. Why? Who's screaming?

My throat hurts. My ears are ringing. What's going on?

Now I know. 

It was 2:08 am and a drunk driver hit me and my friends. I was wearing a seat belt, but the girl in the passenger seat wasn't. She was the only one out of the four off us who wasn't strapped in.

We were driving back to our homes. I was supposed to be the first one to get dropped off because I knew my mom was going to be upset.

We were so close. We were a few streets away. But so was the drunk driver. We were going straight and he was turning.

We didn't see him. He didn't care to see us.

He hit the side of our car. He must've been going really fast. We rolled. Not once. Not twice. But four times.

Somewhere along the way the girl who wasn't strapped in bounced around the car. Her body hit the driver before flying out the front window. Only, she wasn't able to get out all the way. So she dangled. Half in, half out.

The driver, her neck broke from the impact of the other body. Luckily for her she lived. But not completely. She will only live for a few weeks. Her body will be completely paralyzed and she will later die because the bleeding in her head will drown her brain.

The girl that sat beside me got multiple fractured ribs and a large gash on her forehead. She lived. I'm glad.

Since the car hit my side, I got most of the impact. My ribs cracked under the restraint of the seat belt. Glass shattered all around me and cut my skin in any area possible. My head broke the window glass of the side door.

I blacked out and when I came to, it was 2:09 am.

I was screaming.

I was scared. My chest hurt. My head hurt. Everything hurt. I couldn't breathe but at the same time I was breathing too much. I didn't know what was happening but all the same I knew exactly what happened.

It was my first time in a helicopter. Also my last. I didn't get to enjoy the full experience. I died mid-air.

Now the drunk driver. He lived. He was so heavily intoxicated that he flowed with the movement of the car. 

He was returning home after drinking with his friends. It just so happened we were heading in the same direction at the same time.

He suffered major injuries, but he'll recover at a good rate. He didn't lose any limbs, but he did lose something.

He lost his sister.

He lost me.

I wish my brother would stop drinking and driving. Please.