Gap Year

Be safe

   "I'm fine. I've got everything I need, I promise." I said into my cell phone.

   I left home one week after Ginah left for her summer bridge program. Of course our goodbyes were tearful but I'll get to visit her sometime.

   My mom called me everyday since I've been gone. It's only been a week.

     "Are you sure? Do you have toothpaste paste? And remember to wear sunblock because you get sunburnt so easily." My mom said frantically into the phone.

I didn't inherit my mother's smooth dark brown skin tone but I did get her curly brown hair. A true blessing. I had a lighter complexion while maintaining a deep caramel color that always caused me to burn in the sun.

" I do and I will. The heat here in Georgia is different, I'm not sure if I'm sweating or if the water in the air is drenching me." I said as I lifted my arm to shield the sun.

I was able to rent out a nice house through a certain home rental app. The house was smack dead center in the woods but it was amazing.

The porch swing is where I spent my mornings and evenings since I got here which is where I was at this point. Enjoying a fruit bowl and talking to my mom.

" Well I think that's all southern states, Mona. But be safe out there. Your dad and I have been worried and we just want to make sure you're finding what your passionate about during this year." My mom said.

"It takes me leaving for you two to be on talking terms?" I joked. "But neither of you have to worry about me at all, I'm a big girl."

"That's between me and your dad but I have to talk to you later it's time for me to go into work." She said rushing me off the phone.

Before I could say anything else I heard a smooch from her end of the line before a quick I love you. Once she did that the call ended.

I stretched and got up from the porch swing. With my bowl and phone in my hands I made my way back into the house dropping them off in the kitchen before going to change into my out for the day.

With eighty percent humidity I didn't want to be trapped in a pair of jeans even if they had holes in them. I settled for blue and white dress and a pair of white sandals that I was absolutely in love with. I put on a little mascara to make my brown eyes pop before grabbing my purse.

I located my phone in the kitchen and ordered a ride from a popular ride share app.

"Five minutes away." I muttered to myself.

The drive to my location was long but during the drive is when I noticed how beautiful Georgia was. The trees stood so tall and green. I wondered to myself what it all looks like from above because it felt like a never ending green maze.

Before I knew it the driver stopped and I was at my destination.

A1 Rentals is what the sign read but the L in rentals was gone only leaving behind the shadow of a missing letter.

I thanked the driver and stepped out of the car back into the blazing wet heat. I was met outside by a tall man in a slingshot shirt. He smiled revealing his chipped front tooth and I smiled back.

"You lookin to rent a car today?" He asked with his eyes squinted. "Let's go into the office miss."

I looked around the small lot and the cars didn't seem to be in that bad a shape.

"I just want to rent something for one week. Something small" I said as we entered the office.

He sat down and looked me up and down before letting out a breath.

"You know you have to be 25 or older to rent a car right? Cause ya look about 16 we don't rent cars to runaways." He said dismissively.

Looking younger is always flattering except when you need to do things that pertain to your age.

"Well I'm 18 and I have a friend that says you rent cars to people my age too. From looking at this place it doesn't seem like you get a lot of business so why not just take mine?" I asked.

He sighed and grumbled before pulling out a set of papers. "That's gonna be an extra one hundred dollars on your deposit." He said as he slid the papers my way.

I ended up in a red 2009 Fiat with a dent in the back. That wasn't a problem at all. The ac worked and so did the radio.

Before yesterday I didn't think I needed a car to get around but ride share apps could only do so much for me. I wanted to explore on my own and drive to places I know I wasn't allowed to. I drove around all day sight seeing snapping pictures and I even got to eat some real southern cooking that basically put me to sleep.

I underestimated how dark the back roads would be getting back to my rental home. Each turn was navigated my the gps but everything looked the same.

The high beams were in and I still felt like I was struggling to see. It was basically pitch black out.

That's when it happened.

A large animal jumped out in front of the car and I didn't think. My hands almost robotically jerked the wheel to the left side of the road and suddenly the car was out of control.

I swerved trying to get the car steady all while screaming at the top of my lung, fearing for my life.

The tires screeched on the pavement as I tried to balance the car but to no avail.

I flipped. Once. Twice. Three times. Four.

The sound of crunching metal and breaking glass was deafening.

I was upside down and my face was wet and I didn't know why there was a white sheet where the steering wheel used to be and I was in pain.

What was that? Am I okay?

I didn't know what was happening anymore. I do know that I was really tired and the last thing I remember seeing is that white sheet where the steering wheel was supposed to be.