Life change

As we pulled out of Hialeah High’s student parking lot, I thought to myself, “Awesome! My parents actually ‘let’ me skip school today!” It was National Senior Skip Day, one of the best days of our senior year.

I got to school a few minutes earlier than usual and headed to my first class. As soon as it was over I double-timed it out to the parking lot where we were to meet. After a quick bite at the Denny’s and some chit chat while we waited for the rest of the posse, we formed a small caravan and headed across the 836 to the beach.

We arrived at Penrod’s South Beach on this sunny, cloudless day and unloaded the cars. While everyone else settled down, Carlos and I raced towards the inviting water at full speed. He was just a few steps ahead of me but I was catching up. We dove across the waves as we reached the water.

Almost instantly, I heard a loud ‘Crack!’ I hit something solid with my head.

What the hell? What happened! Ok, relax, I’m still alive  I can feel the water around my face. I can her the underwater symphony of the ocean. As I opened my eyes I could see the sand being stirred gently by the motion of the waves. I just make out some shapes on the bottom, I didn’t know at the time but they were pieces of pilings from the old pier. I was still floating face down but luckily I was still holding my breath. I could feel small bubbles escaping my nose and rolling up the side of my face.

Ok, ok, now just stand up. WAIT! I can’t move. Noooo! Why can’t I even lift my head? I slowly realized what had happened; I had snapped a vertebra in my neck. Oh my God! I can’t drown, not today. My parents! My family! My friends! They’ll be so sad. You can’t do that to them! It won’t be fair! Its national skip day, we’re supposed to be having fun! No! No! No!

As I lay there praying, I inexplicably rolled over and gently started breathing again. It was to be the first day of my new life.