A warm, summer afternoon

Full of laughter and tunes

A long drive home from a pond nearby

The sweet taste of cherries still fresh on our tongues

Couple of adolescents, trying to have fun

No intention to get hurt

No thoughts to break the law

Soaking up the last days of summer

A misread color

Unknown rules for the young driver

Acting on impulse, without any thought

One wrong turn, so much damage

Flashes of red and black, crunching glass and metal

The rustic smell of smoke and gasoline

A spiderwebbed windshield looks me in the eyes

The iron taste of blood replaces the once-sweet cherries

Climbing out of the car, no sense of reality

Everything blurry and faint

People running from every direction, determined to help

My friend, dripping in blood, fear plastered on her face

Sirens fill the air

Blue and red glares

This began so carefree

How did it go so wrong?