Dead at Seventeen by John Berrio Agony claws my mind. I am a statistic. When I first got here I felt very much alone. I was overwhelmed by grief, and I expected to find sympathy. I found no sympathy. I saw only thousands of others whose bodies were as badly mangled as mine. I was given a number and placed in a category. The category was Traffic Fatalities. It doesnt matter how it happened. I was goofing off -- going too fast, taking chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. The last thing I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard a crash and felt a terrific jolt. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream. Suddenly, I awakened. It was very quiet. A police officer was standing over me. I saw a doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over. Strange that I couldnt feel anything. Hey, dont pull that sheet over my head. I cant be dead. Im only 17. Ive got a date tonight. Im supposed to have a wonderful life ahead of me. I havent lived yet. I cant be dead. Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks came to identify me. Why did they have to see me like this? Why did I have to look at Moms eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked very old. He told the man in charge, Yes, hes our son. The funeral was weird. I saw all my relatives and friends walk toward the casket. They looked at me with the saddest eyes Ive ever seen. Some of my buddies were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked by. Please somebody -- wake me up! Get me out of here. I cant bear to see Mom and Dad in such pain. My grandparents are so weak from grief they can barely walk. My brother and sister are like zombies. They move like robots. In a daze. Everybody. No one can believe this. I cant believe it, either. Please, dont bury me! Im not dead! I have a lot of living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want to sing and dance. Please dont put me in the ground! I promise if you give me just one more chance, God, Ill be the most careful driver in the whole world. All I want is one more chance. Please, God, Im only 17.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:32:57 +0000
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