There are moments in life that are hard to believe if they come true. One such day in my life was February 13, 2021—the day of an accident, which was like a nightmare for our family. That day could have been the last day of my life… but by the grace of God, we came back from the brink of death.
That time was the time to overcome the first shock of the Corona pandemic. I had to go to the company for an urgent office work. My father was with me. The two of us set off in a small car. The road was relatively empty, a strange discomfort was hidden in the air, although we still did not know what awaited us ahead.
After going some distance, a speeding car suddenly hit our car hard. In an instant, the surroundings became dark. A loud noise, the loud sound of breaking glass, people screaming—it was as if time had stopped. Our driver died on the spot. I was thrown out and fell on the road. When I opened my eyes, I saw blood, broken cars, and a crowd of people all around.
My father was inside the car. Seriously injured. I became speechless, forgetting my pain and running towards my father. I was slowly losing consciousness, but my mind only wanted my father to live. At that moment, I felt how uncertain life is, how fragile. A second ago, we were talking, planning for the future, and a second later, we were facing death.
We were taken to the hospital. My father was admitted. When I regained consciousness after a long time, I only thought—God! If today had been a little different, would we still be here? And if something happened to my father, what would my family do? That night was the longest, most terrifying night of my life. Lying in bed, I only thought, what if I lose my father? What if I myself don't live anymore? My mind was swaying with thousands of questions, fears, gratitude and worries. The next morning, the doctor came and said—“Your father is stable, the danger is over.”
At that moment, I understood that I had found a new life. Not only me, my father, my entire family came to life anew. No one among us is the same anymore. Now I wake up every morning and feel my own breath with gratitude. I understand that life never gives guarantees. What we think of as an ‘ordinary day’ can be the turning point of life. This one-day experience has taught me that time is never to be neglected, that we should value our loved ones when they are by our side, that we are lucky in every moment, because we are still alive.
Today I am more aware, responsible and grateful. I value life much more than before. And before getting into any car, I cannot find peace until I ensure my own and others’ safety. Those 24 hours, the ‘unbelievable’ time of my life, have changed me from the inside out.
