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In The Blink of an Eye

Writer's picture: T.M JeffersonT.M Jefferson

Updated: Nov 11, 2023


In the quiet dawn of the city of Marietta, Georgia, on a seemingly ordinary morning, the world was about to shift beneath my feet. Little did I know that this day would become a defining chapter in my story, one marked by an accident that would bring me face to face with the fragility of existence. My name is T.M Jefferson, a writer by trade, and this is the true tale of how life can take an unexpected turn and how, in the midst of chaos, the human spirit can find solace and strength in the most remarkable places.


The early morning light shed a mellow radiance over the city as I set out on my routine drive. It was an ordinary day. The clock on my car's dashboard read 6:30 am, and the familiar streets lay before me, bathed in the soft hues of dawn. A song that had become one of my favorites began to play through the speakers, and with one hand on the steering wheel, I used the other to turn up the volume.

 

As I approached the stop sign at the quiet corner of the intersection, I couldn't have known that the simple act of turning up the music would set in motion a chain of events that would forever alter the course of my life. With my foot firmly pressed on the brake, I took a moment to glance to the left and then to the right. A line of cars were coming down the street, and I patiently waited for them to pass.

Time seemed to stretch, a minute and a half feeling like an eternity as I observed the bright headlights and traffic, waiting for my opportunity to move forward. Finally, the street appeared clear of any oncoming vehicles. I signaled left and eased my car into the street.

But what followed was a sudden burst of chaos. A blinding white light enveloped me, and thick smoke swirled around, obscuring my vision. The world outside my windshield became a blur as my car spun and swerved, feeling like a wild rollercoaster ride. My heart raced, but I felt composed. It was as if time itself had slowed, and in those crucial seconds, my thoughts were a mix of fear and painful memories. The sound of crunching metal and shattering glass filled my ears. My body was tossed around in the vehicle as it spun and jolted, and my mind was a maelstrom of emotions.

I was scared, my heart pounding in my chest like a trapped bird, frantic to escape. Nervous energy moving through my veins, a surge of anxiety and uncertainty that left me breathless. In those seconds, I thought I was going to die, and the memory of my father's fatal car accident loomed like a haunting apparition in my mind.

 

The accident felt like a cruel twist of fate, a reminder of how fragile life is. In that moment of impact, as my car was tossed about like a plaything, I struggled with the possibility that this could be the end of my journey.

 

When the whirlwind ceased, I found myself in a grassy area, my car inches away from a building and a few feet away from a towering 25-foot tree. My calmness would soon be tested as I heard a knock on the window, and a voice from a stranger outside, asking the most important question of the day: "Yo! You aight? Yo! You good?"

Struggling to regain my composure, I reached for my phone, my trembling hands fumbling in the aftermath of the wreck. My wife's number was stored in my contacts, and I hit call. I knew she was either still in the house or on her way out to drop our son off at daycare. The phone rang, each ring seeming longer than the last. Finally, her voice cut through the line, "Hello?"

 

"Somebody hit me. I’m by the police station. I'm shaken up, but I'm aight."

 

"Oh my God, are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance? Where are you?"

 

I glanced out the shattered windshield, my surroundings still disorienting, and replied, "I think I'm in the grass, and there's a tree. I don't see any blood, but please, call for help. I need you, babe."

 

"I’m on my way!"

 

My vision was still blurred from the accident, and I struggled to respond. The stranger's voice was a lifeline, a reminder that there were others nearby.

 

"Yo! You good?" he asked again, his tone urgent but caring. He was trying to get my attention, to offer help in a moment of dire need.

 

"I can't get out!"

He came closer to the window and lowered his voice enough for me to hear him. "You good? You don't got nothing on you, right? Police is on the way. I had to call 'em…"

 

In that moment, my mind was still racing, my pain undeniable, but his presence and concern were a ray of hope. "Nah, I'm good," I replied.

 

"I'ma get you outta here," he said, determination in his voice as he tried to pull open the driver's side door. But the door wouldn't budge.

 

"Try the other door…" I told him, desperation creeping into my words.

 

And somehow, with his help and my own determination, I managed to crawl over into the passenger seat, and he was able to pull open the door. When I tried to get up and step out, I almost collapsed, but he caught me.

 

"I got you, don't worry," he assured me, a stranger who had become a guardian angel in my time of need.

 

The stranger, who had become my lifeline, didn't hesitate. He pulled me out of the wrecked car as I remained immobile, unable to move. Every muscle ached, and I feared I might have injured my legs or back, but at that moment, the relief of being outside the mangled vehicle was overwhelming.

 

Just as the stranger helped me to safety, my wife arrived on the scene. The police station, incredibly, was just a stone's throw away, and yet fate had brought this accident so close to our lives. I saw her car approaching, and with unsteady legs and a body still throbbing with pain, I made my way toward her.

 

As I talked to my wife, and my son, trying to reassure them that I was okay, the paramedics pulled up, their concerned faces brightened by the flashing lights of their vehicle. They asked me if I was alright, offering to take me to the hospital. However, at this point, all I wanted was to go home. The desire to be in the comforting embrace of my family overruled the potential injuries I might have sustained, and I definitely had injuries.

 

The early morning darkness still clung to the scene, and traffic had backed up due to the accident. The Marietta Wrecker came to tow my car, now reduced to a twisted wreck. But before they hauled it away, they allowed me to gather my belongings from the vehicle. As I stood beside my car, which I had purchased less than a year ago, now totaled and gone, I couldn't help but reflect on the frailty of life and the reality of how quickly it can change. 

I thought I was going to die, and the memory of my father's fatal car accident loomed like a haunting apparition in my mind.

I had somehow managed to stay calm, and the reason was clear: thoughts of my son and my wife, who were waiting for me, anchored me to this world. Their faces flashed in my mind like a lifeline, a reminder of what I had to live for. I couldn't let this accident be the end of my story.

 

My entire life, the moments of joy, the struggles, the dreams I held, all of it raced through my mind in those seconds. It was as if time had compressed, and I was confronted with the urgency of living, of being there for my family.

 

After the wreckage settled, a sense of gratitude washed over me. I couldn't help but think that only a higher power could have guided me through this ordeal. It was as if some divine force had intervened, sparing me from what felt like an inevitable fate.

 

As time passed, the shock of the accident began to fade, replaced by a sense of reflection. The experience had left a mark on me, altering the way I perceived life and its moments.

 

I couldn't help but contemplate my existence and the unpredictability of fate. The accident was a reminder that life can change in an instant, and that the people we hold dear are the true anchors that keep us grounded in this unpredictable world. Thoughts of my wife and son had been my source of strength, and the accident reinforced the importance of cherishing every moment spent with them.

 

I also realized the value of community and the kindness of strangers. The man who had pulled me from the wreck goes to show the compassion that can be found even in the most unexpected places. His actions were a reminder that in the face of adversity, humanity often shines brightest.

As I watched my car being towed away, I felt a sense of loss. But it was a loss that paled in comparison to the renewed appreciation I had for the gift of life itself.

 

The accident had changed me, teaching me to savor each day, to express my love more freely, and to be grateful for every sunrise. It was a harsh lesson, but one that I would carry with me forever.

 

As I reflect on that morning in Marietta, Georgia, I'm reminded of the reality of road safety in this state. Georgia, like many places across the country, has seen its share of car accidents, injuries, and fatalities. In 2022, the Georgia Department of Transportation reported over 300,000 car accidents in the state, resulting in almost 1800 fatalities. These numbers aren't just statistics; they represent lives affected and changed forever. My own experience, while deeply personal, is only a fragment of the larger narrative of road safety in Georgia. It serves as a reminder that behind every statistic, there's a story, a family, and a community impacted by the consequences of a momentary lapse or a twist of fate.

 

June 2023 marked a milestone in T.M.‘s career with the release of his memoir, “CHANGE THE GAME.” This introspective journey through words allowed readers to delve deeper into T.M. Jefferson’s life experiences and creative mindset.


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