For some reason, I feel exhausted. I do not know why, nor understand why there is a slow beep echoing throughout the room where I lay. I try to open my eyes, but they won't budge; instead, they hurt a bit. It's kind of like the feeling one gets when dust becomes lodged in their eye and dries out the surface. Yeah. It feels exactly like that.

     Beep... Beep... Beep.

     Huh. My head feels funny. It's as if I am being submerged underwater and it becomes hard to breathe.

     Why am I so tired?

     Somewhere around my body, I hear people talking. I can only cathch muffled fragments like "...highly unlikely... BPM under..." and "She... brain damage... unresponsive."

     Shock runs through my body as I hear a woman begin to sob on my near right. She... she sounds like Mom. They were talking about me.

     All of a sudden, the pieces come together.

     It was Friday. I remember being in the car along with my friends. My best friend Sydney was behind the wheel while I was in the passenger seat. Both of us, along with our two other friends, were heading back to her house after a party.

     I remember that I had had a few drinks and didn't feel comfortable to drive. Sydney had said that she would could since she only had two shots. I hadn't thought any better of it and let her drive.

     The four of us were halfway to our destination when a SUV had come up the road 200 feet directly ahead of us. I realize now that we were on the wrong side of the road. Everything that had happened after was a blur of sceams, honking, and abrupt darkness.

     Beep... Beep.

     I'm scared. I don't want to die. For God's sake, I'm only twenty-one! I shouldn't be laying in what I know now is a hospital bed as my mother screams and cries her eyes out.

     I want to comfort her. I want to tell her that I'm okay, but my body won't allow it. The only thing I can do is remain trapped in this void of oddly peaceful darkness.

     A warmth finds its way around my hand and a voice fills the room.

     "Hey Elaine."

     My heart drops at the sound of this familiar baritone.

     It's Andrew, my fiance.

     His low soothing voice comes up again and whispers to me, "I know you're still there and I know you can hear me, so I want you to do something for me. I need you to make it through this. El, I love you, God, I love you so much, and I need you in my life. We all need you, so wake up. Please El, wake up."

     I can physically feel my heart breaking at his words. He's so kind, so loving. I wish that somehow I could regain control of my body and wrap my arms around both him and my mother.

     Beep...

     I just wish that love could have the power fix everything, but unfortunately, it can't.

     The darkness comes closer.

     However, it's not just peaceful, but warm and welcoming.

     It's just right.

     The beeping haults.

     I'm sorry Mom. I'm sorry Andrew.  

     Goodbye.