Two years ago on my 16th birthday, I almost died. I remember all the days’ events as if it was yesterday. I woke up promptly and lethargically at 5:45 like I do every Friday morning for school. The only thing different about this morning was that it was my 16th birthday and I woke to my parents and older brother singing happy birthday to me in various keys, with a big birthday breakfast made just for me. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Jamie, happy birthday to you!” they sang in unison, it was dreadful and out of tune but I loved it anyway.
I felt a joyous countenance spread across my face and Edward placed the breakfast tray on my lap. There was a candle sticking in my stack of pancakes which I made a wish on and quickly blew it out. They clapped and my mom kissed my forehead, “Happy birthday, baby,” she whispered in my ear. Edward plopped a green and blue wrapped box next to me on the bed, and walked out the door. Finally, my parents left so I could get ready for school. I quickly shoveled the food into my mouth and ripped open the box. “AHHHHHHHH!!” I screamed shrilly, startling the dogs. Edward was the first one to show up in my doorway.
“Happy birthday!” he said, pulling me into a stalwart bear hug.
“You got me a CAR!”
“Well, mom and dad are getting me a new one, you get the old mustang.” I stared at him for a while in shock, not too sure what to say next. “Well,” he started, “we better get ready for school. Don’t want to be late!” he sauntered toward my door but paused when I sighed.
“This, is going to be a very good day. I can feel it.” I said. He smiled at me and walked down the hall to his room.
It took me longer to get ready than normal because of the nerves. I wasn’t too sure what to wear, so I pulled on my favorite jeans and a new shirt I got from my cousin. Car keys in hand, I skipped down the stairs into the kitchen where Edward was waiting for me.
“You wanna drive?” he questioned, as if he had to ask.
“Yes!” I said a little too quickly. He laughed opening the door for me. I stalked out onto the lawn pausing to feel a soft eddy blow back my hair. In the driveway I could see the red mustang. Someone had put a pink ribbon on it as if it was new. I ran to the driver seat and jumped in, ignoring the handle on the door. Edward chuckled as he raced to grab shot gun and hopped in the car.
I felt the silent car suddenly come to life as I turned the key in the ignition. It shook under me and I turned to smile at Edward. I turned up my favorite station and deftly pulled out of my driveway. “Eeeh!” I yelped out of excitement. I saw Edward smile out of the corner of my eye.
“You like it?” he asked.
“Yes! I love it thank you sooooo much. This is the best birthday present ever!” and it really was the best birthday present ever, I think everyone in my school would concur that a red mustang convertable is the best birthday present any 16 year old could get. "All my friends will abhor me," I thought to myself. I had a strange compunction in the pit of my stomach as I drove over the escarpment to the end of our street; the busiest intersection in all of Los Angles. The light was green for me so I went right through not looking for any traffic from the right or left. Just as my favorite song came on, Edward yelled, “JAMIE! Watch out!” at first I had no idea what he was talking about. I was driving on the right side of the road and I didn’t miss a stop sign. I was only going 30 mph on a 35, what was wrong? Then suddenly I looked to my left and there it was, the big ‘watch out’. There was a huge truck coming right at me and it didn’t look like they had any intention of stopping.
I capriciously slammed on the brake, stalling the car and lurching us forward. Almost instantaneously the truck rammed into the front end of my new car. Just then everything went black. I heard the faint sounds of sirens and the effluvia of gasoline and blood as I slipped into unconsciousness.
I guess it was a few hours until I woke up again, I was in a white hospital room and I could hear the beeping of the various monitors on the wall behind me. My mom was sitting in the chair in the corner of the room.
“Mom?” I managed feeble, “what happened?”
“Oh Jamie! I was so scared, are you alright?”
“Yes mom, I’m fine. I just have an awful headache and my arms and legs hurt. What happened?”
“Honey, you got in a car accident on your way to school. It wasn’t your fault, the guy in the other lane didn’t stop.”
“Oh my gosh, is Edward ok?” I started to remember what happened and realized Edward was in the car with me.
“Yes, he’s fine. He just has a broken leg. The doctors are putting a cast on him right now. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with me? Like, what injuries do I have?”
“The doctors say you have a concussion and you broke some ribs. Your left elbow is fractured and both your legs are broken. They said they had to wait till you woke up to put on any casts, but your on tons of pain meds which will probably make you fall back asleep any second.”
“Mom, I don’t want to go back to sleep. I want to see Edward.”
“Ok, I’ll make sure you see him right when you wake up again.”
“But mom…” and that was it, I was out cold.
Now, on my 18th birthday, I look back on that irrevocable, fateful day exactly two years ago. I think to myself, “I should’ve died. The accident was in the paper the next day questioning how I was still alive. I shouldn’t still be living, I should be dead right now.” But then I realized, I’m alive because I’m meant to be in this world. Someone kept me here for some reason and for that, I am truly thankful.
