“What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.”-Aristotle.

May 18,2002

When I was small I always wondered what it would be like to be blind. But I never thought that I would find out. As of five days ago I never thought that I would keep a diary. *It was to girlie*, but I guess accidents tend to change people’s point of view. No matter how long ago it happen. I just had to write it down, I had to share my story. It all began, when I was 14.

On April 1, 1986, I was having a great day. I was just getting off the bus to go home it was a five-minute walk to my house that was on a busy highway in Toronto. I was talking to my friend; who I hadn’t seen that day. We walked for about two minutes then we arrived at her house and she walked into her driveway and ran to her house going to call her boyfriends.

“I’ll call you later.” She shouted over her shoulder as she opened the door stepping inside. I waved good-bye not sure if she saw or not.

I continued to walk. I had my head down thinking about how good my day had been. Then I heard a noise and I looked up to see a car speeding down the lane I was walking on. (It was a fourth lane at one time.) It didn’t slow down. It’s going to hit me was the last thing I remember thinking.

Then on April 10, 1986, I woke up. There were beeping noises all around me but for some reason I couldn’t open my eyes. I heard what sounded like a door opening then shutting.

“Who’s there?” I asked.

“Ms.O’Conner, how are you? I’m Doctor Fargo. You’re in the hospital,” She answered.

“What’s wrong? I cannot feel my legs and I can’t see either!”

“Do you remember what happen?”

“No. What’s wrong with me?”

“You were in an accident, what the police call a ‘hit and run’. I’m sorry to have to tell you this but you are paralysed from the waist down. Also a nerve that controlled your sight was broken.”

“I don’t believe this,” I stated.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Get out! Get out! NOW!!!” I shrieked at her.

May 19, 2002

God. I know she was only doing her job, but telling a fourteen-year-old what she did how she did.

I started to remember after that what took place, more and more. I remember people from my school sending me letters. I couldn’t read them and I would sit in my hospital bed and cry as some stranger would read them o me with no emotion or feeling. Like they were forced. Which they probably were. I even had some visitors. I wasn’t mentally stable. They never stayed very long. I guess I didn’t want to believe that an athletic person like myself could one day be helping the school soccer team win a important game then the next, be laying in a hospital bed not even able to move my legs.

The doctors told me I would never feel my legs again; I showed them.

Then on June 11,1986, I remember my birthday. It was in the hospital. It had just been three months since my accident. I was even more depressed then before and no one could help me. My best friend visited me each day and brought new flowers for the new ones even if I couldn’t see them. Some day she would act as if I had died which was partly true. Part of myself had died in the hospital. But something else was born. On my birthday my two best friends came into my room, lifted me up into a wheelchair and pushed me somewhere into a new room. There was a lot of noise probably from a large group of people. I remember being a little afraid of what people would say and think but nothing happen at least not in that area.

There seemed to be masses of people and they all wanted to wish me a happy birthday. Most people would have enjoyed the attendance but all I wanted to do was to be left alone.

I had a terrible time. I remember people would come up to me and say ‘happy birthday’ or ‘Enjoy this day it only happens once a year.’ I couldn’t tell who it was. I was about to leave when a person came up to me, and didn’t wish me happy birthday, but all they did was sit on my lap. I could tell by the way the chair bent and groaned with the extra weight. They introduced them self as a young girl not saying anything other then being a young girl. All she did was ask me question, like what was it like to not feel that. Of course I couldn’t. She would poke me then ask me if I had felt it. Of course I couldn’t. She told me that she sometimes walk around with her eyes closed to see what it felt like to be blind. She asked what it was like to be blind also. I tried to explain but never came up with the right words.

She asked how it happened and what I did before the accident. She was the first person I had talked to freely in the open about the accident and my fears about the future. I told her how I had my accident and that I was on many different school teams before this happen. I slowly found that as she talked to me the rest of my problems disappeared. I talked to her for the rest of the party and just before it was time for the party to end. I asked her why she was the hospital, because I didn’t know her. Her answer broke my heart. It hurt more then never being able to walk, run, jump, or skip.

“I didn’t come here, I live here.”

From then on the little girl visited me everyday. I found out her name was Monica and she was 4 and 4/5ths as she always said. I also found out that she was in the hospital because of a rare children’s cancer. She needed a lung transplant. The nurse said that she didn’t have a very good chance for a donor because she had a strange blood type.

One morning in June after my therapy, she came by and gave me a picture of herself and told me that when I got better and could see again. I would never forget her as I could see her forever. Then I told her that I didn’t need this picture because I know what she looked like. She asked me what she looked like and I told her she was an angel to me and always would be.

May 20,2002

Five years later Monica died at the age of nine. Before she died she told me that she wanted me to walk into the church that her funeral was in. She wanted me to also to walk to her grave everyday and tell her what I was doing and how everything was in my life. At her funeral I did walk in and I gave a speech about how she changed my life and I still go to her grave and tell her what I am and what I am doing.

I still have one thing to do. I have to look at the picture she gave to me not to know what she looked like because that doesn’t matter. I don’t really look at what people actually look like but how they treat and act towards others. I want to know what my little angel looked like. I know it’s impossible; but guess what the doctors said that I would never walk again in my life and now I’m running on the beach each morning and I’m in competitive sports and plan to go to the Olympics someday. I think; no…I know that someday I will look at that picture which that little girl gave to me. Trust me I don’t lie, not to anyone, especially angels.

By: Amelia Coombes

Sunset

      I look out my window as the sun begins to set. i wonder to myself, how many

people excatly take time in their life to stop for a few minutes, to watch the sunset. To

watch the sky dance with wonderful colors jumping at different speeds cloud to cloud.

From red to purple the colors dance.

      Many, have said it is the most fantastic dance; i have to agree. Have you taken

time to look at the sunset as the colors flow together in a wonderful ballet and then

suddenly jump and flash like someone doing a jig.

      I sit here in my chair and look out my window. As the sunset slowly disappears

for another person to enjoy. I sit here wondering if this was the last sunset I would see,

becuase I have cancer.

      I wonder if i will see another. I treasure each day to the fullest from the sunrise

to sunset. I bathe in the riches a day can give. Treasure today you don't know which one

will be your last.

Par: Amylia Coombes

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Understanding

I didn't know it then

I didn't know why

My parents told me

Don't tell them what happen to your eye,

Cover that bruise or that cut.

I didn't get it then

But i get it now

All my life I didn't understand why,

But now I understand why they said what they said.

Through my life i grew up wondering why

Wondering what life could be

Why they told me to lie

To my teacher; to the people in the suits that came to visit.

My sister grew up to hate the world and life itself

My brother started visiting more

It all stopped when my brother came to visit.

But when he went away it always came back.

But as I grew up I wanted more I wanted something more.

But as I look back, I wish I hadn't have lied

To my teachers, friends, close family, and people in suits

Maybe if I had said something this wouldn't have happen

To my sister and I.

I understand now

Too late to look back

But maybe I can help others

Just maybe

I understand why

They didn't want the teachers, friends, family, and people in suit

To know why

Because...

They would understand.

Par: Amylia Coombes

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A MISTAKE                                                                                                                    

It wasn't my idea.

I didn't believe in drinking and driving.

My friends said it would be okay.

They were wrong...

The night was great,

Until getting home was a problem.

It was already past 12.

<I'll drive.> Someone said.

We all pied into our small car

With the music pumped we started on the way home.

<watch the road.> Someone said.

The driver didn't and we didn't mind.

It wasn't my idea,

I didn't want to do it.

But peer pressure is a big thing,

I wish I hadn't.

We are half way home,

I didn't think it could happen,

We were so happy.

We didn't see it coming.

I arrived at the hospital later then the others,

I look for my boyfriend, Mom, and Dad.

to see if they are lined up to see if I was here.

But I don't see them among the crowd.

It wasn't my idea.

I didn't want to do it.

I wish I could rewind time,

But I know I cannot.

But the true question is this....

would I ever do it again?¿?

NO!!!

Par: Amylia Coombes

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