Tuesday December 13th: A day that will be stuck with me forever and change the way I drive.

Let’s start our story from the beginning, Tuesday morning. I decided to come home from school that day so I could study with my sister and my brother’s girlfriend. Plus I needed to make an appointment with my doctor to see them that day. I remember being home and contemplating whether to call the doctor or not. I didn’t need to be seen for anything urgent, but after some convincing, I made the call and they were able to fit me in at 4:30 that afternoon. So after I made the call, I sit and attempt to study for the biology final that was planned for the next day. But I got distracted by all of my dogs, my cat, and of course Emily and Taylor. Four o'clock rolled around and I began to get ready to leave the house, as my doctor's office is little over a mile away.

As I’m getting ready in walk my mom and my dad as they get home from a busy day's worth of work. My appointment was set for 4:30, and usually I don’t leave the house until ten minutes before I have to get there. But for some reason that day, I left my house at 4:10 P.M. exactly. I hopped in the Chrysler, put on my seatbelt, put my phone in the cup holder next to me and drove to my appointment. I get to the end of my road, take a slight left and come to an intersection. I come to a stop, and this is where everything gets fuzzy.

I look to my left and I saw a tow truck coming from a distance, I look to my right and there’s no cars, so I look left again to see if I can make a left turn. The tow truck is still some distance away, but then turned on his directional to turn onto the road I was on and starts to slow down. Still, there were no cars to my right at all. Before the tow truck even turns, I start to make my left turn as he begins to turn and that’s when it happened. I didn’t see him and he didn’t see me. All I remember from this part is the loud bang, then seeing white jump out at my face and being jolted to the side. Just like that, in a split second my car was wrecked. I panicked. I unbuckled, and screamed, I screamed not because I was in pain, but because I didn’t know what else to do. I looked for my phone, but it wasn’t in the cup holder. I panicked some more as I searched frantically. When I found it, I didn’t call 911, I called my house.

It felt like the phone was ringing forever, when really it only rang twice and I hung up because no one answered right away. I then called my dad’s cell phone and immediately the phone is picked up by who I thought was my dad, but was actually my brother. I yelled into the phone “Accident! Help Me! Help! Accident!” That’s all I had to say and he knew exactly where it had to have been. I get out of my car, I look around and everything was in slow motion. Cars were stopped, people getting out of their cars to come help, and then I realize there’s no tow truck in sight. I did not get hit by the tow truck, but by a car that was behind him who was going to go around the tow truck as the tow truck turned onto my road. I did not see him and he did not see me. I’m now out of my car and I continue to look around. I see the front of my car, the entire front is gone. It looked like something fresh out of a Transformers' movie.

That’s when I saw a Hall truck, a local family owned company that my brother used to work for and who my cousin still works for. I didn’t know who'd be driving truck, all I knew is that who ever it was would know my family. I sprint over and he opens the door and at first I didn’t recognize him and he did not recognize me, but I yell “Mr Hall?” in panic and he then introduces himself as Mr. Butler, a name immediately knew and at that point I knew I would be okay. I told him my name and he called my dad to tell him I’m okay and to tell him where we were. That’s when a lady who ran across the street came over to make sure I was okay. I do not know who she was and I wish I had gotten her name; but she held me, made sure I wasn’t hurt anywhere, and assured me that help was on the way. I am beyond grateful that both of them were there for this.

As I was still in panic mode, they both helped to calm me down to the best of their abilities. They both stayed and talked with me until my parents got there and until they knew I was safe. I will be forever grateful that they were in the right place at the right time and helped me during a time of panic. As I sat on the guardrail, I saw my brother’s truck roll up from across the street and out hop my mom and my brother who run over to make sure I’m okay. Then I saw my dad’s truck pull up in front of Mr. Butler’s truck, and out hops my dad and my sister. As they run over, I hear sirens and soon see lots of lights. Three police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance are soon within my presence. Just as I was beginning to calm down, all the commotion put me back into panic mode. I was aware of what had just happened but everything was a blur at the same time.

Different first responders kept coming up to me. I was continuously asked if I was hurt and what had happened. I have a burn on my arm from the airbag and a bruised knee, but they still wanted to have me checked out at the hospital. A tow truck came and took my car away and the next thing I know, I’m in an ambulance and off I go to Memorial Hospital. I was completely fine, and at this point all I worried about was that I wrecked the car and that I had a final the next day. The doctors write me a note, and next thing I know, I’m out of classes for the next two days. It was so I could stay home to rest from the whiplash that would later put me in pain for the next two days.

I walked away. I walked away with a bruised knee, and a small burn on my arm. I should not have walked away from looking at how wrecked my car was. After everything had cooled down, at first I was mad. I was mad I was missing my final the next day. I was mad that I only had to make it a mile from my house. I was mad that I left super early for my appointment. I was mad I didn’t wait for the tow truck to completely turn. But then I realized I can’t be mad. I can’t be mad, because I’m here and I could’ve been seriously hurt. So now, I’m not mad, instead I’m grateful. I’m grateful to have walked away. I’m grateful I hadn’t pulled out a second earlier, because then he would’ve hit my door. I’m grateful for Mr. Butler being there and staying with me. I’m grateful for that woman, who I didn’t know, that came over; I’m grateful that the other guy was also unharmed. And lastly, I’m grateful for all of the first responders who came to help.

I walked away. I, Erin Condo, walked away. That is what I keep retelling myself. I should be grateful. I’m only 18 and my life could’ve been taken away that day, but it didn’t, I walked away. Someone was looking over me.

I look back at Tuesday and I cringe as to what happened and I have a fear to drive again, but I’ll get back on the road soon enough.

That accident, even though I walked away, scared me. It scared the living daylights out of me. But for now, I’ll just say a prayer, and be thankful for all I have and for everything and everyone in my life. This experience opened my eyes. I will now drive more cautiously, but aside from driving, I will have a new outlook on life. A more optimistic and opportunistic outlook. I will try my best to alway be grateful and to smile more often.