The Day I Died.

*Names have been changed not to protect the innocent, but because I do not know the name of the guilty.

It was a beautiful day, the last day of my life. I walked to my car in the back parking lot of my school, which is actually a great place to park during the day, and I was accompanied by my friend and coworker Ashley. The sun was high in the sky, and a light breeze reminded me that the spring, however short in these parts of Texas, was in full force. Adding to the springtime atmosphere, a young girl, Stacey*, biked around the corner of the parking lot, headed the opposite direction; as a member of the Outdoor Education class, 6th period would be enjoyed by her daily outdoor activities, bike riding included. She donned a pink tank top and a blue helmet, which reflected the sun as if it were made for that one beautiful day only. The three of us all made eye contact, and cordially smiled.

Continuing the short walk to my car, and with the girl out of my peripheral vision, I heard her call to "Tito", apparently to one of the boys on the track at the time. And then, with a slight quiver in her voice, Ashley exclaimed "Oh, watch... watch out!" Even through the rushed stammer, I could hear the surprised shock in her voice. And then, as if time herself had slowed, it happened: a bike tire ran up my right heel and ankle, ripping it to shreds. Not an instant later, handle bars rammed into my bike. Somehow, the bike suddenly appeared in front of me, and it fell with a thud, taking the neglectful rider with it. Fighting the inevitable face plant, I stomped hard on the bike tire as I attempted to keep my balance, which I found was worsened by the entanglement of my high heel in the bike tire's spokes. Only a miracle kept my face from certain turmoil on the asphalt.

(Ok, so I didn't die.)

The girl laid, half under and half on top of the fallen bike, saying nothing, but looking as if she had no idea what to say. That is, looking as if she's never known what to say about anything at all, and there had never been a complete thought to leave her lips. Loudly, I proclaimed "Owww! What were you DOING?"

Perhaps it was tears welling in her eyes, or perhaps she was as empty of thought I had had previously assumed, but she could only ask, in the smallest of voices, "um, are you okay?"
Of course I wasn't. She had just ran into me. After making eye contact with me no more than 4.5 seconds before. Still, I answered yes and asked the same of her, then told her to get on her way. Who DOES that? I can't believe this girl might get a driver's license some day...