2/22/12

January 30, 2018 / Uncategorized / 0 comment / kridley18

It was just another ordinary school day. I woke up at 5:30 just as I had every weekday for the past six months, completed my normal morning routine, and walked out the door at precisely 6:40 just as I had always done. After months of waiting for the bus I finally learned the schedule of the bus, which always arrived at precisely 6:49. As an anxious person I always left the house early, even knowing the arrival time of the bus, down to the minute- just in case. In those nine minutes I found that hopping on the rock wall that separated my yard from the road would entertain me. Despite being winter, a time known for dangerous weather conditions, it was surprisingly clear. The grass was green, the murky brown green experienced directly after the snow melting, and the driveway clear. I should have known, the air was frigid and the sand of the driveway frozen, but I didn’t think.

I woke up on the ground after having blacked out, pain shooting throughout the entirety of my face and blood dripping on my favorite sneakers. I ran through the driveway, muscle memory, as I could not see. I threw my backpack onto the porch and fumbled for the doorknob, shoving myself inside. At this point, the shock had worn off and the deluge of tears streamed down my face while my body jolted continuously with sobs. “I think I broke my nose!”, I cried out as my mom ran out of her bedroom. Sitting on the couch, blood streaming steadily from both of my nostrils, the bus passed by at 6:49, exactly as expected.

I should have known, the air was frigid and the driveway was frozen, but I didn’t think. It was cold the night before, mother nature had frosted over the surface of the earth. A thin layer of black ice, undetectable to the naked eye, covered the rock wall. I jumped on the largest rock, just as I had numerous days before, as I ignored the warnings of the weather, altering the appearance of my nose forever. Everyday of that winter I had been cautious as to avoid the incident that occurred that day, yet that day, February 22 of 2012, I was oblivious to the conditions that the earth had cruelly cast upon Maine that night.

I have not step foot onto those rocks since that day, I have avoided them at all costs, cautious not to step the wrong way. My blood stained those clothes permanently, and the crooked mountain that was produced on that day still remains on the center of my face. That ordinary day taught me to be cautious in times when conditions can prove to be dangerous. The everlasting damage that occurred to my nose is a daily reminder to consider my actions in the slightest moments of day to day life. Through my experience I have learned to steer clear of risky situations as often as possible, advice many can learn from.

Image from Foter.com