The Car Crash... (True story. Older sis is the one in the picture)

It all started when I invited my six-year-old cousin, Olivia, to come over to my house. I wanted to introduce her to my kittens, Lovey and Dovey. From my room where Olivia and I were playing with the cats, I could hear my mother’s phone ring. I was tempted to get up and get it because it had been ringing for a while, but I heard my mother pick it up. Knowing the phone situation was taken care of, I just tuned out and went back to playing with Olivia.

“Jazlin! Olivia! Get in the car… now!” My mother’s voice was urgent and sounded frightened. I barely ever heard my mother sound like that… so honestly, it frightened me. “Olivia! Jazlin! Right now! Hurry!” I quickly stood up and was about ready to walk out of the room when Olivia tugged on my shirt.

“Can we bring the kitties, please? I like to play with them.” She asked, ever so sweetly.

I nodded and picked up the bigger cat, so she wouldn’t have trouble carrying the tinier one. On the way out, I could see my mother frantically trying to call certain people and run out the door. As soon as we got into the car, I set down Dovey, the bigger cat, and helped Olivia get in, what with the smaller kitten in her arms.

As soon as my mother got into the car, she went speeding down the driveway like it was the end of the world and went zooming down the street. She kept on calling people even though she was already driving like a mad woman. Finally, she got a hold of somebody.

“Dara! Dara! Oh my goodness! Thank God you answered! Kiera’s been in a car accident! Her car rolled four times! She’s been life-flighted to the hospital!” My mother screamed into the phone. Right when I heard those words, my whole body froze up. Kiera, my older sister, was in a car accident? Her car rolled FOUR times? “And… And they’re calling in the preacher. Oh God, Dara, that means things aren’t going to be good! She might die, Dara!” Whoa! Whoa! Hold the phone! My older sister might die???

I looked over at Olivia, and she looked at me with the same scared facial expression. She dug her face into one of the cats’ fur coat. “Jazlin… Kiera’s going to die?” She asked, her eyes watering. I stayed silent. Then, Olivia did something I would’ve never expected from a six year old. She closed her eyes and hugged the cat really close, then started in on her talk with a certain someone. “Dear God…” She sighed. “Please don’t let Kiera die. She is my cousin and I love her.” She squeezed her eyes tighter. “Please, God, don’t let her die. Please God… Please God…” Tears started pouring down her face. “We all love her and want her to live!”

At this moment, I started crying too. The fact that a child that young would pray in a time like this surprised me. I hugged her and bawled like a baby right beside her.

As soon as we got to the hospital, Olivia and I jumped out, leaving the cats in the car, and ran into the hospital. We soon found a couple family members and gathered around the room my sister was in. A nurse told me to wait and went inside of the room. Soon she poked her head out and motioned for me to come in. I looked at everyone and followed the nurse.

“Look. You’re little sister is here to see you.” I heard the nurse say, as I walked in. I was so happy to see my sister alive even though she was connected to all of these tubes and cords. But my sister felt differently.

“NO! NO! GET OUT! NO! AAAAHHH!”

Immediately, I fell to my knees bawling my eyes out. My sister, my sister… she could die any second… and she didn’t even want to see me. I sat there crying as the doctors tried their best to calm her down. My sister meant so much to me, why would she react so harshly towards me? Why wouldn’t she at least… why wouldn’t she at least look at me? I exited the room in tears, feeling as though my heart had been mangled and destroyed, just like my sister’s car.

~X~

Turns out, my sister’s blood level was eight times over the legal limit and her car did roll four times. But surprisingly, everywhere… except the drivers seat… was completely bashed in. And not only that, but my sister came out with only scratches and bruises. She had been drinking and fell asleep at the wheel. The car went out of control and rolled. She was still extremely drunk by the time midnight rolled around. No alcohol poisoning, just drunk.

I went home, still in tears of how my sister spoke to me. Honestly, she was the only sister that I had that knew what I had gone through in the past year. She was always the one who told me that I would get through… that I could be strong. And when she spoke those words about not wanting to see me, my heart broke. And drunk or not, it still hurt. I never told her about that. About her saying that to me and how I felt. She barely remembers anything from that day. But I do know this, she’s the best sister in the world, and there’s no way in hell I’m ever going to tell her to “Go away” or “Get out” when I’m the one she wants to see most.

           

Oh also…. Turns out… Olivia was allergic to cats.

My aunt Dara was not happy….

                                                                                               

~FIN~