Car accidents.
An event that can change your life in a matter of seconds.
When I was 16 years old I watched my mother fly through the windshield of our car, my body whipping against my seat belt as my head slammed against the dash board.
A drunk driver was in the car with his 4 year old daughter when he hit us from behind, killing himself and her.
It was an early morning when it happened, I was on the way to Florida from where my mother and I lived in Georgia.
My high school tennis team had made it to finals, which was why we were traveling on thanksgiving. We were facing the Florida dolphins in our last match, an event all of my hard work had worked up to.
My 11 year old little sister, Liliana, was spending thanksgiving with her best friend.
And what seemed like the perfect day, was turned into a nightmare.
Like I said, it was an early morning; maybe 4am. My mom and I were singing along to party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, this being a hit song in the year 2009. Energy filled the car, my mothers vibrance making everything seem better.
A light in front of us turned red, my mom coming to a slow stop. Two or three cars passed and the light was getting ready to turn green again. And that's when it happened.
A car going around 90 miles per hour slammed into us from behind, the crunching sound of the back of our car and shattering glass piercing my ears.
My mom had forgot to put on her seatbelt, since we were in a rush to get on the road. My head slammed against the dash board, glass flying all over my small frame.
I remember trying to call for my mom, my consciousness fading in and out as I laid against my seat crying.
The light turned green, but there was no movement. The world had seemed to stop. Eventually a man pulled over and pulled me out, setting me in his car while his wife called the police.
My mom was found flung 20 feet away from the car. I was driven to the hospital by the man who had pulled me out, my body cut up and bruised.
I was rushed into surgery, a large piece of glass piercing my abdomen. I still have a scar to this day.
When they covered my stitches and I was able to walk, they let me take a shower. That was the first look I got of myself since the accident. Blood had coursed my tangled blonde hair, my face and body lined with cuts.
It took me awhile to recover, seeing as I had some internal damage that needed to be worked on also.
My dad had left when my mother got pregnant with my sister, marrying the women he was having an affair with. My sister and I were forced to move to New York to live with my grandmother.
When I graduated high school I immediately attended NYU and got a job as a surgical nurse. I had used the large fortune my mother had passed down to me to get through college and buy a two bedroom apartment.
My little sister is now 19, myself being 24, her still living with my grandmother. My sister had decided that she wouldn't attend college and use the money our mother had inherited us to help her get through life, taking care of our sick grandmother being her first priority.
When I turned 22 my grandmother had been diagnosed with an incurable disease that goes by the name of Alzheimers.
I've always made sure to visit them at least twice a week, lending a hand whenever possible.
"Liliana, are you one hundred percent sure you don't need money for groceries?" I ran my hand through my knotted, greasy hair. I've been taking extra shifts at the hospital to earn some extra money.
I fumbled through my purse that was set on the island, in a hurry to find my keys before I'd be late to work. My little sister was cooking vegetable soup on the stove across from me.
"Aha." I whispered to myself, a sigh of relief rushing over me once I realized I hadn't lost my keys.
I turned to my pink haired sister, her grey stained shirt barely covering her ass that was barely covered by her bright pink underwear. Her colored hair was thrown up into a beyond sloppy bun, little pink frizz sticking out in random places. Not that my hair was any better.
"We're fine here, Ember. You should get going before you're late." She slightly giggled, continuing to stir the soup with an old wooden spoon.
I leaned against the counter, watching the steam come off of the red liquid, disappearing into thin air.
"Em, are you alright?" My sister snapped me out of my trance, rinsing of the spoon and setting it in the dish washer.
"Yeah, just tired." I quickly stood up straight, grabbing my coat that was set on the back of the kitchen chair.
"How many hours have you been working?" The sound of my sister clicking off the stove dominating the sound of everything besides her voice.
"A lot." I took the bottom of my plastic zipper, pulling it up till it reached the top of my coat.
"You really need to be getting more rest" my caring sister sighed, walking over and handing me my purse.
"I need money Lily, I don't really have another choice do I?" I raised an eyebrow, wrapping my arms around my sisters thin frame.
"I guess not." She frowned, kissing me on the cheek before slowly unwrapping her arms from me.
"Love you, Lily." I smiled, walking out the door and being careful not to wake my sleeping grandmother.
I opened the door to the tesla I had stupidly used a portion of my 3 million dollar inheritance on. I immediately clicked my seatbelt and put in my destination, watching as buildings passed.
