.

Its been exactly a week since the accident took place. 

November 13, 2010; 2:30 am

I got involved in a car crash. Head on collision. Car got totally wrecked. 

My friends and I were on our way home from Tagaytay. We decided to pass through Cavite since it was the "shorter route"-- or so we thought it was. We were 2 vehicles on convoy but since the people I was with weren't familiar with the way, we were running second, at around 140-180kph. All the swerving and overtaking kept us dead anxious the entire trip. Little did we know that our "trip" had yet to end soon--way before we reach home.

We were rapidly heading a blind curve until we saw a van coming towards us. We saw it coming. We all screamed at the top of our lungs but it was too late for our friend who was driving to maneuver. Alcohol does not and will NEVER perk up your brain's reflexes, you know. We knew we were gonna hit.

The moment I opened my eyes, all I saw was a thick white fog, almost opaque, blocking my vision. I was hearing noises, but I was too woozy to comprehend. I could hardly breathe due to this distinctive smell of gas that until now I know I could still distinguish. And for a moment, I thought it was the end for me. I really thought I was dead.

It was when I heard my friend who was screaming for help that I finally got back to my senses. I woke up in a fetal position in the middle of the two front seats. My back hurt, my legs got stuck, my neck hurt, everything hurt! I couldn't move a finger. I was nauseous but I sensed the feeling of devastation surrounding us. My friends were thinking of ways to get me out of the car without worsening my injuries. They called for paramedics and I asked them to call my Tita Ninang to inform her of the accident.

It was only after a while that they found out that blood was oozing from my head. Even I didn't know about it. My friends took turns in applying pressure to my head laceration. They kept on talking to me and even resorted to slapping me just so I could stay awake. 

The ambulance took almost an hour to arrive. The moment I was taken out of our wrecked vehicle, I felt my entire body shivering. That was only when I started to feel the excruciating pain.

We were taken to the nearby hospital in Dasma. Shortly, my Tita Ninang arrived. I burst into tears as soon as I saw her. I was speechless. I found out that a part of my scalp got scraped off. It was then that I deciphered that I got thrown in front due to the impact. And yes, my head broke the windshield. Oh and being informed by the nurse that my spinal column got damaged and my hips were fractured didn't help ease the melancholy I was going through.

They called for another ambulance since I needed to be transferred to another hospital that provides CT Scan. It arrived at 9:30 am. 

I was rushed to the Critical Care where I had needles inserted on my body--dextrose, allergy tests etc. Soon enough, a part of my hair was shaved off and my head laceration was sutured. The doctor informed us that I am being evaluated for surgery cause of my pelvic and femur fracture. It just couldn't get any worse. I totally had no idea what will happen next. 

I got confined in the hospital and before long, the breaking news found its way to reach everyone. Family, family friends and friends visited my stinking self. I felt like a broken record trying to briefly explain to everyone what exactly happened. At a certain point they all made me realize how lucky I am despite all the injuries I acquired. It could've been worse. A lot worse. 

Just the thought of it still gives me chills up to now. Come to think of it, all we just wanted was to reach home within our "curfews." Who knew that one night could actually turn into a drastic one?

I'm out of the hospital now. Thank goodness there wasn't any need for surgeries anymore. That doesn't mean I'm all good, though. But hallelujah, I say. All the aching bones and muscles, throbbing bruises and cuts, and difficulty in walking perhaps are God's ways of slapping me--telling me not to rush life and to slow down. I just really had to learn it the hard way. 

HERE'S TO MY SECOND LIFE. x