Chapter One

When someone dies, it's supposed to be sad but having to watch it all happen before your very own eyes is devastating.

Out of everyone in both vehicles that night, I was the only survivor. The driver in the other vehicle, died at the wheel, paramedics said he had a heart attack. I saw the truck heading into our lane but by the time my mouth could formulate a response it was already too late.

If I had said one word, or uttered anything about the truck, maybe Daniel would still be alive. The accident happened in slow motion. One moment we were laughing but then the next, my mind seemed to have stopped time.

As the impact of the truck crashed into us, we slammed back way too fast and I felt the car start to fall off the ledge. I looked to my left at Daniel before the car fell off the bridge and saw blood dripping down his forehead just from the impact of the hit.

"Daniel! Daniel!" I screamed, but it was hopeless and deep down I already knew that, I just didn't want to face the truth.

I heard both our deathly screams as the car tipped backwards and started to roll off the bridge.

It's something that you can't explain to anyone. You can feel the force of gravity take over as it holds you in its grasp and takes you down.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten like a story I once heard from my grandmother when I was younger. When you are scared, just count to ten and each number you get to, you think of a happy moment in your life.

I was willing to do anything at this point to stop this fear I had pounding inside of me as I took quick and fast breaths.

1. For Christmas last year, Daniel turned his back garden into a winter wonderland because I told him I hadn't seen snow before. My heart felt like it was going to explode from my chest in complete euphoria because it was so beautiful and magical... I looked at him; the fear I felt present in his eyes as we made quick eye contact

2. Making sandcastles on the beach with my parents when I was eight... Time seemed to be moving more slowly as we drew nearer to the water beneath us.

3. Winning my sixth grade spelling bee... I tried blocking out the excruciating pain screaming at me in my ear, every second we were plunging further and further down.

4. Art classes with Miss Miller... The blocking worked and I felt the contact with the water as our car fell in.

5. Bedtime stories with my grandmother... I jerked forward at the impact it created

6. Becoming class president in fourth grade... The impact was so strong I could feel my neck crack as it got jerked back.

7. Winning the state soccer championship with a club I met in Rio... The window started cracking from the pressure of the water outside of the car as we were sinking towards the bottom.

8. Attending a concert with Rachel... I took a deep breath as the water started to swarm me, my clothes were drenched.

9. Completing lab projects after school with Leander... I went to the little air pocket that was left, to take another breath

10. Realizing there was no escape from the situation and being okay with it.

I held my breath though I'm not sure why. It would only make me suffer. I once read in a book that drowning was a peaceful way to pass, just one intake of water and your lungs can no longer work properly.

It's like going to sleep and never waking up. For a split second I thought about doing it, just to get the pain I was feeling to be over.

I paid attention to my heartbeat. I held my breath though I'm not sure why. It would only make me suffer. I once read in a book that drowning was a peaceful way to pass, just one intake of water and your lungs can no longer work properly.

It's like going to sleep and never waking up. For a split second I thought about doing it, just to get the pain I was feeling to be over. my cold body and begging for a fresh breath of air.

It reminded me of when I was five years old running in a big meadow full of flowers with a teddy bear in my hand as I laughed out of breath. That would have been the time where I would have lost if I were in a breathing contest.

The water that surrounded me was growing warm against my skin, I felt as though I had been sweating. The blackness came soon after. My vision becomes blurry by the second as I see spots at first and then I lose vision altogether.