My second life changing event.

I was tired - really, really tired. I had just finished working a double shift. I had gone into work at 3pm and worked until 7am. I was working in a group home, taking care of developmentally disabled adults. I loved my job and enjoyed caring for the 6 residents that lived in the home. I had been working with developmentally disabled and physically handicapped adults for a few years, had been well trained, and was dedicated to providing quality care for them. My relief didn't show up that morning, so I ended up working until about 10am, until someone could relieve me so that I could go home and sleep.

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I was tired. I was not concerned about driving home, though. I only lived about 5 miles away from the group home. It was daylight, the roads were clear, and the sky was bright blue. I drank another can of Mountain Dew, confident that the caffeine would be enough to get me home. I bid everyone good afternoon/goodnight (depending on their perspective) and hopped in my car.

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I was a good driver. I had driven in rain, snow, and ice storms when I had to. I had never driven drunk. I was just tired and only had a little way to go home. So I got in the car and left. I drove home the same way I did every single day I worked. I was careful, just like always.

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Then I got to the corner of Knapp and Grand River. I had a stop sign and stopped. I yawned and stretched. There was no traffic, so I wasn't worried about holding anyone up. To my left, there is a big hill. I looked and there was nothing coming. I looked to the right and nothing was coming from that direction, either. So I stepped on the gas.

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Time slowed to a crawl as I heard the crash. I heard the metal directly behind my driver's door shriek as it gave way. I heard my neck snap and knew in that moment that I was going to die. I heard someone scream, a classic horror-movie scream. It took a moment before I realized it was me. I saw the world spinning around me as the car spun in circles and I closed my eyes. I prayed that it would all be over quickly.

(To be continued)