A Look Into The Road

When you’re a teenager, you think you’re invincible. Tragic events only seem to happen to other people especially living in a small suburban town. That is until tragedy called for me. I woke up in the evening of June 20, 2020 feeling sick to my stomach. I didn’t realize why at the time, but it felt like something dooming was about to occur. It was 7:36 P.M., and I couldn’t sleep, so I started browsing through Tik-Tok videos for humor. All of a sudden, a text from my best friend, Josh, was sent to my phone. “I don’t know if you’ve heard already, but I am deeply sorry for your loss.” Confusion struck me like a wave. Then, more notifications kept popping up on my phone one by one. “I knew you were close to her. I’m so sorry Tya.” What is going on…I pondered? I started to click on the notifications from a group chat when a voice deep in my head screamed, “Don’t do it, you’ll be broken.” But, I didn’t listen. I never listen! #RIPCherlin. LLC Forever and crying emojis flooded the text’s stream. I decided to call the only person who could give me some clarification–the other link to our sisterly trio. Shaking desperately, I scrolled slowly through my contacts list and located her name indicated by a blue gem. As the phone rang, I took deep breaths, fighting back the tears that threatened to escape from my eyes. She whispered hello in a raspy tone. I sputtered desperately, “Nalivia, what the heck is going on? Why is everyone saying Cherlin is dead?” On the other end of the line, I could feel her grief. Both of our worlds came crashing down. “Tya, they crashed. She’s gone. She’s gone!,” she choked out to me. Slowly, I put my arm down to the side while still holding the phone. Nalivia’s voice seemed a million miles away. Losing a best friend is very devastating. After all, this is the person I confided in most. She would cheer me on when I was too timid to try something new, and the one to hold me accountable if I slacked off. It became hard to move. The air smelt bitter and tasted like defeat. When I zoned back in, I could still hear Nalivia’s sharp sobs echoing through the room saying, “Cherlin is dead…are you there…how could that happen!” The most delicate, compassionate one of the trio had lost her life due to a car crash in which she was not belted safely. The tears began to stream down my face in hot anger. I didn’t know whether to be upset with her, the driver, or myself for not convincing her to go. I became angry that she was the only one out of four people to die and even angrier that it occurred so brutally. I sat lodged between my bed and dresser for 30 minutes. “No. I won’t believe it. They’re all liars,” I thought to myself. “There’s no way this is real. I convinced myself that she would come back and say, “Sike! ¡Hola niños! I’m still alive!” I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I screamed my heart out as it dawned on me: we weren’t there to say goodbye.

On June 20, 2020, a group of friends were driving over the speed limit in the pouring summer rain. The driver of the car suddenly crashed into a pothole, spun off of the road, and crashed into a tree. At 5:34 P.M., my best friend, Cherlin Kiyonna Hollowell, died on impact. Education in safe driving is very important. For someone who has experience with loving a loved one due to reckless driving, this problem should be made aware of ASAP. Not only should this be made aware, but specific solutions and laws should be replaced/added. By definition, driving education means a formal class or program that prepares a new driver to obtain a learner’s permit or driver’s license. So, I recommend petitioning driver’s ed as a REQUIRED way to get a learner’s permit or driver’s license. Statistically, teens who go through driver’s ed are more prone to not getting into (life-threatening) accidents. Not only do the driver’s ed courses thoroughly cover each state’s traffic laws, it helps new drivers learn the skills that are essential to the safe operation of a car. Another step that adults can take is fixing more of the roads on highways, intersections, etc. Big potholes form day in and day out; consequently, that’s how most people spin off the road, lose control, and crash. By fixing these road conditions alone, approximately by 16%.

So, in conclusion, if we were to alter/fix these driving and road conditions Imagine how many parents won’t get a tragic phone call throughout the day telling them that their child is dead due to irresponsible driving. Maybe if this solution would’ve been put in place earlier, my best friend would still be alive.