Witnessing death was something that came surprisingly easy for me. I didn’t scream, I didn’t become sick, I was oddly settled.
While driving home singings with my parents after after a sweet sixteen, disaster was the last thing on our optimistic minds. Engrossed into the melody, I was startled when my dad ran through a red light, made an illegal left turn, and jerked the car over to the side of the road. My mother and I were blinded by our enrage, we never noticed the reason for my dad’s actions until he jumped out of the car, and ran into the middle of the road.
Darkness and clouds blanketed the sky, therefore, all I could make out was the shape of a man, laying in the middle of the highway. As my dad was performing CPR in attempt to save
Cozy coffee shops, warm summers, friendly hugs…1.2.3. Disastrous events occur all the time. We are always aware that someone, somewhere in the world, is hurtling forwards into tragedy. Tragic endings leave behind unanswered questions, unfulfilled dreams, unspoken thoughts. Those who love you are left behind, in the dust of your presence, spent to forever remember only your memory, not your existence. Crisp slices of toast, piping hot cups of tea, fresh strawberries…1.2.3. We all tend to forget an end exists. We spend our lives compiling as many happy memories as we can, fully enjoying the good days, deeply mourning the sad ones. When tragedy strikes, only then are we reminded that the end is there, and we scurry and try once again to make the most out of
The remorse grey morning awaited. I never knew one person could have such an impact on my life, as well as everyone else’s lives. I always thought everything was just a beautiful fantasy land where everything was perfect. Waterfall coming out of everyone's eyes filled my imagination of what one man can do to a crowd. I asked myself one question, “Why him, why does it have to be him”. The emotions, pouring out of meand I knew the fall of 2006 was gonna be bad.
On 09/12/2016, I Deputy Daniel Pruitt was dispatched to 52455 West Highway 16 for an unattended death compliant. I arrived on scene st 6:45pm and meet with Creek County EMS unit 40.
Please, oh please let the words come. I sit, and stare, and type, and I backspace. No one will like it. My work is crap. Crap, crap, crap. I crumple my paper watch it fall. The clock taunts with its ticking reminding me of all I want to forget. It creates a beat; a song. Poetic chords and dismal notes ring in my ears. But no, this is thought I should avoid. I am great- better than great. People will love this. Oh please, please, please let them love this. Will my legacy amount to nothing more than abysmal hope? This is the last time I think of it. Oh please don’t let me think of it. The blank page stares at me and I begin to write. One word, then another, then another, and another. You will never know what comes out onto the page until it is
I’ve always wondered what death feels like, finally coming to the point in your life where everything stops. Is it just a sudden silence? What does death taste like, what does it look like? People say that you can have a near-death experience, but I sure as hell haven’t ever had one. None of that “Life flashes before your eyes” B.S. I mean sure, I’ve had a few bumps and bruises, and a couple times I’ve come home anything but sober. I’ve never really come close to dying or death in general, well not until that day in the woods.
For the last few days I've left completely lifeless-not depressed- just lifeless. I'm very familiar with the feeling of depression. But this shit right here is on a whole different level.
I can still hear the quiet dripping of rain when I awoke on the morning before the accident. The sun was barely breaking through my window's blinds with a yellow and gold glow when I opened my eyes. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was 8am, and my family was going to a church service as was their usual routine. After dragging myself out of bed and dressing the part, I headed to the kitchen to eat. Steaming stacks of chocolate chip pancakes drizzled with hot maple syrup awaited me.
"Then, just like that, she was gone. I couldn’t hold back the tears, and I don’t think my sunglasses hid them well. I’ve gotten used to my emotions and I only let it all out when they can’t be stifled, so you know this wasn’t a sigh-I’m-gonna-miss-her moment. The sunshine and warm breeze of Friday afternoon was frustrating; dreary, cold, typical-March days are fitting, appropriate for feeling this way, and how nice it was outside was a slap in the face. I later recalled how just a year prior I reversed the phrase A sunny day is no match for a cloudy disposition on a day like this one. I thought I was okay with everything, so what was it that hurt me? She left so easily; she never thinks about
The leather feels cold under my fingertips as I sit on our living room couch. My feet are propped up on the small coffee table, banging together lightly in boredom. Mom sits with me, our shoulders barely touching. It's only been twelve hours since I found Laura in the alley and the police already want to put us into protective custody. I don't want to go, but there is nothing tying me here anymore. Laura's gone.
Why was I the one to get pulled? There were so many people at the party and I was the one to get interrogated? My luck. The officer sat me down at a table in a bland room with non-transparent glass. He sat down across from me and looked at me with a death stare. After about a minute or so, he said “ Hello Mr. Khalifa, I’m officer Marcus Hopson”. I sat apprehensively thinking about what to say. “Okay well you already know what you’re in here for, so start talking” Hopson said. All I could do was look down. Once I decided to talk, I said “What are you wanting to hear from me?”. Hopson laughed and turned around to look at me in the reflective glass. Looking at me more intensely in the glass, he said “Don’t play stupid. We know you were at that
Sometimes, the sorrowful events in life bring out the best in your life and yourself. Two years ago, I went through true maturation through a traumatic event that immensely affected me as a person. As pencils were being sharpened and the sounds of school filtered back into my life, I found out my Grandma had Cancer. In an effort to provide better treatment, she came to live with us for four months. That time was incredibly precious and special as I saw my Grandma in a whole new light. I saw her strength, her tenacity, and her positivity.
The death of a loved one is one of the most challenging events I have had to overcome. The summer of 2014, I was just going into my junior year, was one for the books. It was an absolutely amazing summer. My sister had her first baby in May and we were getting to make his first summer his best, but little did we know it would also be his last. We lost him at the end of July. It was one of the hardest things to cope with. So many unanswered questions still to this day stand.
A thunder clap sent floorboards shaking, The house heaved back, violently aching, Candle flame sent shadows lunging, My stomach started deeply plunging. I tried to keep my teeth from chatter, As the windows tempted shatter, Held my blankets to my chin, Tried to keep above the dinner.
In 2016, there were over 64,000 drug related deaths. My dad was sadly one of them.
now. The only thing I can do now is pray and hope. To pray that I will