Mock Accident

My freshman year, the senior class put on a mock accident in which two students were "killed" during a drunk driving accident. We witnessed people being arrested, pulled out of cars, put in body bags, and driven away in hearse or ambulence in a re-inactment. Afterwards, we went inside and listened to a few speakers about drunk driving, as well as went through a mock funeral for the boys. I knew one of them, Sam, better than the other, Dan. Not to mention that I was best friends with Sam's sister, Chloe, and our moms worked together, so I was equally close with Shelly. I cried the entire day, and it really hit me: Megan, never drink and drive!

Today, three years later, the Make A Difference team put on another mock accident. I figured that since I didn't really know either of the victims, Taylor or Paul, that it wouldn't hit me nearly as hard as it did three years ago. I didn't even think that I would cry.

Well, I was wrong. Just like last time, I cried ALL day. When I saw how upset Chloe was at Jordan for causing the accident, I teared up. When I saw how devastated Jordan looked, even though he was pretending to be drunk, I lost it. Not to mention, as soon as I witnessed Taylor's mom start bawling, I did the same. I would never want any mother to experience what she did, even if it is just a fake accident. I know that as a mother, I wouldn't be able to handle it, whether it was real or just a re-inactment.

I shouldn't have even cleaned up the makeup running down my face, because not long after that, I was crying at their "funeral". Peter Remick was the leader of the funeral and compiled a really great speech about some of their favorite memories. The Make A Difference team had created a video of pictures of Taylor and Paul growing up, with sad songs playing in the background. Kaylie and I held hands the entire time. Neither of us could take watching Taylor and Paul's moms cry. It was heart wrenching. We cried the entire time. Right after that, Taylor and Paul read a poem about how they were at the scene of the accident, dying due to a drunk driver, and how much they loved their moms. Then I lost it again.

Although this was just a "mock" accident, it puts everything into perspective. My best friends were "the rat", the drunk driver, and the host of the party. Seeing them in orange jumpsuits with handcuffs on was a mental image I will never forget. It broke my heart to see them in trouble, when there was nothing I could do to help or take their pain away. Even though I'm not close with Taylor or Paul, they're still people I went to school with. Knowing that two people you attended high school with died, is a terrible feeling. I don't want to see any empty chairs up on stage at graduation.

In the end, I realized that it doesn't matter whether you're close with someone who has died or you just went to school with them, it all hurts the same. So, please, for the love of God, don't text and drive,drink and drive, or be distracted and drive. Always wear your seat belt, and drive carefully. I don't want to see or hear about any of you winding up in body bags.