It’s a warm summer day, and I have my windows rolled down so I can feel the wind hit my skin. My sister is next to me and we are both singing our favorite song. She turns the radio up in the car full blast as we sing. I tap on my wheel while my sister dances her heart out in the passenger seat.

We decided to take a hike in the mountains today. We do this often with each other. Me and my sister, Mia, always try to find something to do together. We are pretty much inseparable. As we drive up the hill, a car is driving towards us going downhill. As we get closer, we notice the driver is swerving all over the road.

“Mia, do you see that guy driving towards us?” I ask.

“Yes, what the heck is he doing?” Mia responds.

All of a sudden, the driver swerves to our side of the road. I try my best to move out of the way, but we are driving up a mountain. I grab my steering wheel and jerk it to the side in order to avoid crashing into his car. The only thing I can see is the car getting closer to us. Mia starts screaming because we are getting closer to the car. I start freaking out because I don’t know what to do. I look all around the road trying to find a way to escape.

BOOM!

My vision goes in and out. I can hear the car scrapping against rocks. I can’t figure out what’s going on at first. The car finally stops moving, and I can hear the alarm going off. I turn to my side and see my sister hanging upside down. I try to reach for her, but I can’t move my arms.

“Annie! Annie!” Mia is screaming.

I can’t seem to talk, but hearing my sister’s helpless scream sends a chill down my body.

All I can see is her long brown hair covered in blood. I start to black out again, and it’s almost like I’m in peaceful sleep. When I gain my vision back, I see blue and red lights pulling up. I can hear the sirens getting closer. I see a paramedic trying to grab Mia out of the car.

Mia screams, “Please help my sister! She won’t answer me!”

That’s the last thing I hear before I black out again.

I start to wake up again, but I’m not sure how much time has passed. I can’t see anything, but I can hear a heart monitor. People are talking, but it all sounds like mumbling. I try to open my eyes and move.

I can’t feel a thing, and my eyes won’t open.

I try screaming for help but nothing comes out. I can hear people walking toward me. I feel numb. It’s like I’m not even in my own body. My mind is racing, trying to figure out what is going on.

“Is she going to be okay doctor? Will she ever wake up?” My mom asks the doctor as her voice cracks.

“We don’t know. She is in a coma. Only time will tell if she will wake up.”

My mom starts crying. “Please, is there anything you can do to help her?”

“No, I’m sorry, ma’am.”

I hear him walk away and the door shut behind him. I start to panic when I realize what is actually going on. I struggle to try to move and talk again. I almost feel like I’m crying, but I can’t tell if tears are coming out.

I want to escape my own body.

How could this be happening?

My heart fills with sadness as I wonder if I’ll ever wake up from this coma. I feel my mom’s cold hand touch my face. I can smell her as well; vanilla perfume and cigarettes. Her fingers run through my hair so gently.

My mom whispers in my ear, “Annie, can you hear me? If you can hear me, just know I love you. I need you to pull through this, please. Me and Mia are going to wait for you.”

I remember that my sister was with me when we crashed. I feel so relieved to hear she is okay. I can feel my mom kiss my forehead and walk out of the room.

* * *

I don’t know much time has passed. Every day I wonder if I will wake up. I daydream about being able to go back to school and hang out with my friends again. I had a big science project that was due before this happened. I think about what college I will be going to. This leads me to wonder if I will ever go to college. All I’ve ever wanted was to be a marine biologist. Now I wonder if that’s ever going to be possible.

Mia is finally healed enough to the point where she can come see me. She and my mom visit me quite often. They read me stories, tell me what’s going on with my family, or just watch TV with me.

* * *

I start to feel weird. I feel my heart getting slower. It’s almost as if by each minute it has started skipping beats. I hear doctors and nurses rush in as the heart monitor goes off. They yell orders at each other while scrambling around the room.

I feel myself starting to doze in and out. One moment I hear what’s going on, and then silence. I’m tired, and I feel myself falling asleep. I see a white light coming toward me. The last thing I hear is the heart monitor flatline.

 

I open my eyes.

And see doctors all around me.