The Day When Everything Changed

Hailee Wong
20 October, 2016
Breanna Furlong
Cold. So cold. And dark. Where did the sun go? And why is it so cold? Where did my
family go? Its so quiet, too, my thoughts pounding in my head, cold surrounding me and
suffocating me.
I have to get out. I begin to dig towards what I think is up, and I finally see some light. I
climb out and stand up. Its bright out and there are trees everywhere.
Where did the car go? Where did my family go? I cant remember a thing. Ugh, my
head hurts, its so quiet I can hear myself think as if I wasnt me. Whoa.
Im trying to remember. I think I can.
Come on, Jameson. Youve got to remember, well, I never talked to myself before. I
guess I can start now...
We were driving along the long, windy road and I was sitting on the window with my
body hanging out. I remember climbing up and sitting there because I couldnt get enough of the
beautiful green trees or the crisp smell of winter. We live, or lived rather, in California, so a drive
through the forests of Washington was a nice change of scenery (literally). I could feel the tiny
ice particles in the air biting my face as we drove along down this long, windy road. I can hear
my parents cautioning me against sitting out the window ringing in my ears as if they were right
next to me.
I wish I had listened. I wish I knew where they are. Im 16 for goodness sakes! Im
going to die out here! OH MY GOODNESS! Ill never get married and have kids! I cant be
alone! I dont even know how to cook! Dang I wish I paid attention when Mom was trying to
show me how to cook.
I dont remember how we got separated, or how I ended up buried under the snow.
But seriously, how did I end up there, under the snow? It was cold and I was relatively
far under. Its not like I dug myself down there, did I?
I wish I knew where my family is. Hopefully, I fell out of the car and they kept going on
without me because they didnt notice or something (i dont know it COULD happen)? I hope
it did. I hope we werent in a crash and that theyre safe.
Dear God, I hope theyre safe. I dont know what Ill do if they dont end up being okay.
PLEASE, GOD, LET THEM BE OKAY, I close my eyes and pray for a second that my parents
will be okay.
I walk along the side of the road for a while, looking up and down, searching for the car
containing my remaining family.
Wait. What is that giant dark blob in the snow over there? I run over to it. Its our car, I
think to myself.
AAAARGHHH, I scream out in agony.
I race over to the car and begin trying to dig them out, not caring about the bitter cold I
can feel in my fingers. Cold to the bone, but warm in my heart. I cant let them die in there. I
scream for them as I dig. Ive been digging for what feels like an eternity. They havent shouted
back at me and Im so distressed. I cant believe no one has passed on this road since our
accident.

WHY HAS NO ONE DRIVEN ON THIS ROAD YET? WHERE DID EVERYONE
GO? OH SURE, THE MOMENT I ACTUALLY NEED PEOPLE AROUND, THEYRE NOT
THERE FOR ME. JUST PEACHY, I scream.
What is that red stuff on the snow? Why does it keep falling? Where is it coming from?
my brain is moving a mile a minute, I can hear my heartbeat in my head.
I look up at the sky. Its not raining or anything. I raise a hand to my head slowly, scared
of what I might find there. My hand is freezing against my skin, but it slowly begins to get warm.
There is a substance leaking from my head. I bring it down in front of me and my hand is
covered in the red substance.
Blood. My hand is covered in blood. Its okay, youll be fine. Its just a little bit of
blood. Just wipe it off. Itll be fine, I say, trying to convince myself this isnt as bad as I think.
I feel my stomach turn and my knees begin to grow weak. I sit down on top of the car and
try to catch my breath. My eyes are heavy and everything around me is beginning to spin. No. I
cant pass out. I cant. I must stay awake. I need to dig my family out of the snow.
The soft, white snow. Im sleepy, maybe I should take a nap for a minute. I can dig them
out after I wake. This reminds me of Frozen! LET IT GOOOO! LET IT GOOOOOO! CANT
HOLD IT BACK ANYMOREEEE, my brain sings and I feel myself losing consciousness.
NO. Jameson, wake up, FOCUS. You cant fall asleep. You need to stay awake and
save my family. Come on, I jolt myself awake. Who knows how long I could be stuck out here
if I pass out. Or worse I could die
I sit up, but I feel the blood rushing from my head, feeling dizzier than I did two seconds
ago.
Come on Jameson, you have to stand up and keep digging them out, I say to myself. I
need to do it. I need to dig them out.
Ugh, if only there wasnt such a strong wind. If only we hadnt driven on this road. If
only I think, and I feel like crying. If I die out here, therell be no one left in my family.
I stand up and begin to dig again, the biting wind whipping me around like a rag doll. My
strength is fleeting; I struggle to stand, to bend, to dig. Then everything goes black.
As I come to, my eyes are heavy and my head is pounding. I can feel my heartbeat in my
head. This road is so deserted. The wind rattling has chilled me to the bone.
God, where did you go? Did you leave me here? With my dead family and no one to
help me? I thought you were supposed to be here in the tough times and the good ones? Why
have you left me in the cold, cold forest, battling with myself and the elements? I plead and
mentally wrestle with God
With that thought, everything goes black.
As my eyes roll back into place, I feel warm arms lifting me off of the snow, and softly
place me into a warm car. I havent opened my eyes yet, but its warm here and smells like
cookies. I can hear classical music in the background as well as someone speaking on the phone.
My eyes open and close as we drive, and I see the trees passing, snow flying by. I dont look over
at the man (or so I gathered by his voice) who is driving, for I am afraid of what I may see. I fear
that if I look at him, I will envision my father sitting in his place. I dont want my imagination to
play cruel games with me. I cant take it, too much has happened in too little time.
As I come to, I feel the car come to a stop. The strong arms lift me out of the warm car
and I am hit with the cold wind once more. I am walked into a very well lit air conditioned room.
I am placed on a bed with very scratchy blankets. I hear the man speak to someone else and then
everything goes black once again.

I come to and I see a very bright light.

Am I in heaven? God? Is that you? I think.
I look to my left and see a nurse fixing my blankets and checking my IV. She sees that I
have awoken and leaves the room to call my doctor. Hello Jameson, I see youre awake. How
does your head feel? He asks as he walks over to the foot of my bed.
Alittlesore. Whathappened? I slur, trying to form words, but my head seems a little
fuzzy and my tongue feels huge in my mouth.
Well, we dont really know what happened, but the man who brought you in told us that
he found you sitting on top of a car in the snow. Do you know anything that happened?
Umm I think I was in a car crash with my family, but I was sitting out the window, so I
survived. I dont think they did. Please tell me theyre okay, or that someone went back to get
their bodies or something! Please, Mr. Doctor Man, I quickly come to my senses and rush out.
Well, Jameson, he sighs Yes. Someone went back to get your family. They didnt
make it, Im very sorry. You got a concussion in the crash, and a few broken ribs.
What am I supposed to do? My mom, dad, and sister were the only family I had left. Im
an orphan now, what am I going to do? WHAT AM I GOING TO DO??
And then everything goes black.