I am participating in Red Writing Hood, where the theme this week is Collision.

This week, you have 400 words to write about collision. It can be literal or figurative, large or small. Come back Friday to link up your crash results.

My crash results in 400 words...

I looked in the rearview mirror and I braced myself for what I knew was going to happen next. I grasped the steering wheel with both hands as the car behind me sent my car spinning into the grassy median. I turned my head to look in the back because there was a scream on impact. “It’s okay, it’s okay, mommy is trying to stop!” The car was spinning, and it wouldn’t stop though my foot was on the brake. I pulled up the emergency brake and the car was still spinning. “Oh God help me!” “It’s okay, it’s okay, mommy is trying to stop!”

Those could have been my last words. 

But they aren’t.

That could have been my son’s final cry.

But it wasn’t.

This accident was not my fault.

But it could have been.

A minute before, I had entered the bypass responding to a text, “We were at the movies. We went to see Madagascar. C loved it.”

I could have lost those few seconds, had I not put my cellphone down, and missed what was happening in front of me. Ahead of me a car suddenly slowed down. I would have been the one to collide into that car if I wasn’t paying attention. Combine that impact with the speed of the car behind me, it could have been a major collision.

But it wasn’t. 

Someone could have died.

No one did.

We could have seriously been hurt.

Thankfully, we were not. 

When I finally came to a stop, I got out and ran to the other side of the car to get my son  out. The impact had pushed in the rear end and the passenger side door was jammed. I was able to get him out from the drivers side.

It wasn’t until I saw my car later, that I really broke down. Seeing the results of the collision and recalling my son scream, I had a reality check.

It wasn’t that bad.

But it could have been.

What if I wasn’t here to tell you my story?

But I am.

There are people who could tell this same story.

But they won’t.

Because they can’t.

This accident wasn’t my fault.

But minutes before, it would have been.

Resist the urge to text and drive.

Because you can.

Do not reply to a text of someone you know is driving.

Because you shouldn't.

Kenya G. Johnson