@galenkp. When I saw the questions, I was a little bit weirded out by the fact that I had planned to write something on this today.
Have you or someone else close to you been in a life and death situation?
Exactly two years ago, yesterday I got into an accident that left me bedridden for about a month. I literally couldnāt move or get up from the bed unaided and had to be carried everywhere at the time.
So, it happened one day while I was going to pick up my sisters from school. My dad had indicated that heād be caught up in a meeting and wouldnāt be able to pick them up himself. And so, I had to make use of public transport.
Now, everyone in this part of the world knows that one of the most dangerous vehicles to be in is a motorcycle. This is mainly because motorcyclists are usually really careless drivers, and they go way over the speed limit. Using a tricycle would have meant the kids and I would have a long way to trek as our house is far from the highway so, I opted for a motorcycle. I honestly wish what happened next was caused by the cyclist though.
Weād been riding and the cyclist indicated that he had to fuel up the bike cause he was low on petrol, and as he made a U-turn, a car on the wrong side of the road, crashed into the bike and the next thing I knew I was flying in the air and landed on my waist at the tarred road.
Iād always asked myself what people who got into accidents usually feel at that single moment especially if it happens so suddenly. You feel nothing. Your life flashes before your eyes in that split second and you just know youāre going to die. No time to say your last prayers or think of anyone. None of that.
However, as the car threw me into the road, I kept hearing a voice that asked me to roll over. It was an insistent voice. And I donāt know where that fleeting surge of energy came from but I saw myself rolling to the side of the road. Barely three seconds later, I heard the sound of a mega truck barrel pass. The last thing I remembered was calling out my sistersā names and then the world faded into oblivion.
I regained consciousness however just as I was about to get stitched up at the hospital. The first thing I asked my dad who had tears in his eyes was the whereabouts of my sisters. My dad said they were fine and that for some reason when the car slammed into the bike, I was the only one thrown to the road. I donāt know why that made me so happy. I wouldnāt have been able to forgive myself if anything had happened to them. And with that assurance, I was at rest. (till the stitches anyway)
The doctor said Iād been given anaesthesia but I felt every prick of the needle. It was a most excruciating experience. A world of pain and thirty stitches later, I was transported back home where I remained on the bed, unable to use my legs for weeks on end. I kept looking at the huge bandages on my leg and I prayed earnestly to God that it wouldnāt leave a scar.
Of course, I was left with scars. At the time I felt so terrible. All my life Iād been hearing things like āgirls arenāt supposed to have scars as they would be less attractive.ā So, when I saw the ugly scars that lined my leg to my feet, I was inconsolable.
Till I asked myself āWhat if I had died?ā At least I wouldnāt cry about the scars, would I? And thatās when my mentality changed. Iād been awkward at first and never wore anything other than trousers for a whole year but when that thought came to me, I realized how silly Iād been. There was no reason I shouldnāt be proud of my scars. Itās my evidence. My proof that Iād gotten face to face with the grim reaper, and I came out successful. I faced death and came out victorious, why should I be ashamed?
On the downside, I still do have a bit of phobia for bikes and on the rare occasions Iām compelled to use it as means of transport, I nearly rip off the cyclistās clothes because of holding on too tight.š But apart from that, I should say Iām in peachy form. I remember the experience occasionally and smile to myself. Iām one lucky girl aināt I?š