One Moment, Five Broken Hearts

One
Moment, Five Broken Hearts

It
has been just over two years since one of the most genuine friends of
mine was told that her dad, her best friend, was never going to come
home. She has always been the strongest person I’ve known, but
since that night I have not been able to find any set of words to
define just how strong her strength really is. Her dad lost his life
while driving a semi. The semi crashed, and caught fire. He left
behind four stunning daughters, and one extraordinary wife. It took
one moment, to break five hearts.

The
girls will never be the same, nor should they be. My friend lost one
of the largest pieces of her, and I will forever respect and admire
the strength and persistence that her, and her family have shown
through their loss. I know that her heart is forever altered. I am
aware that her house will forever be a little too silent without her
father’s presence, and my heart and soul ache for her immensely.

The
importance of drivers ed should be plastered on every wall, in
every city. When people are educated, they make decisions based on
that education. Learning about driving will increase the number of
educated drivers on the road, and aid in the decrease of deaths that
occur behind the wheel. There is no absolute way to fully eliminate
the number of deaths related to driving. Like my friend’s father,
there will always be crashes that come with no blame. Deaths that
make absolutely no sense. But there are a number of steps that can be
taken to help decrease the number of driving related deaths, starting
with making sure that the driver behind the wheel is able to drive
properly. It is important to recognize that one may be too sick or
too tired to drive with full awareness. It is okay to say no to
getting behind the wheel if one feels that he or she is unable to
drive to their best ability. It is important to remember that one is
not only putting themselves at risk, but every single adult, child,
and animal that is on the road as well. After a wellness check,
education should be prioritized for the driver. The one behind the
wheel should feel confident in their knowledge of the road.

Personally,
I have never been in a car accident that extends any greater than a
bump, and a bit of a spin. Of course I have known people who have
experienced a car crash, or have lost somebody that they love in one.
My friend remains without her father. My grandmother, before she
passed, had told me of finding glass in her head from a crash she
experienced ten years prior. A classmate of mine died only weeks ago
after smashing into a tree. She died on impact, and she died alone
before her life could ever really begin. Car crashes happen all over.
Not a single person is guaranteed a free pass from one, nor can
anybody assure themselves that the next time they climb into a
vehicle will not be the last. I look around me, and I see singular
moments like these breaking a multitude of hearts. I will use what I
know, I will use the ache in my heart to educate others on the
importance of driving safely. I will use it to remind myself how much
I have to be thankful for, and how careful I should be. There is no
sure way to rid of the things that we have no blame for, no
explanation for. But there is a way to know we did all the right
things to avoid it.

And
my dear friend, when you see this, know my heart lies with your’s.