Narrative

Super Bowl Sunday

     It was a typical February weekend. I had worked all weekend and I was looking forward to going to church on Sunday. My Sundays were usually pretty relaxing but that Sunday, February 3^rd, 2013, was Super Bowl Sunday. My parents had invited a lot of their friends to come over and watch the game and eat food. I, however, decided to make plans with some of my friends. So at eight o'clock I put on my new jeans, my new University of Kansas sweatshirt, my knock-off boots, and left for a fun night out with the girls.

     
     I met my friend and distant cousin, Trina, at my friend Katie's house. Katie and I had known each other ever since we were little. Trina, however, had just recently started coming to our church. Katie and I were just starting to get to know Trina pretty well. We were all looking forward to having a great night together, so we all piled into my car and headed off to Steak N' Shake. After our meal, we headed to the movie theater and watched a movie we all wanted to see.

     
     On the way home Trina and I were arguing over which radio station to listen to.

     
     “I don't want to listen to country music!” I said in a joking, whiny voice.

     
     “Well I want to listen to it!” Trina responded, changing the station back to what she wanted.

     
     “Well it's my car and I'm driving so I get to choose.” I said and changed the station again.

     
     “Well I still want to listen to this.” She changed the station again and recognized the song. “This is my favorite song ever!” She said. “DO NOT CHANGE THE STATION!!” She said in somewhat frightening tone.

     
     I decided to let her listen to it. We were almost back to Katie's house so I didn't mind. We all sang along to the song at the top of our lungs. We sounded pretty terrible but it was the perfect end to the perfect night.

     
     We pulled into Katie's driveway at eleven thirty and they both got out.

     
     “Thanks for the great night guys! I love you!” Yelled Trina as she got into her red Ford

Escape.

     
     “Love you too.” Katie and I said in unison.

     
     I got home and quickly finished my homework for Anatomy that was due the next day. After that I climbed into bed at eleven forty-five. I had just shut my eyes when my mom came into my room.

     
     “Rosanna, Trina had a bad accident.” That was all she said. I sat straight up in my bed.

     
     “What?!” I asked in disbelief. My mom explained to me that her and my dad saw all the lights from their bedroom window. Trina had had an accident a few minutes after she left Katie's house.

     
     “Dad's over there now trying to figure out what's going on. When he gets back we'll decide what to do. But right now we can just hope for the best. You might want to call Katie and tell her what's going on.” She said in a calm voice. She gave me a hug and I tried to pick up my phone. My hands were shaking so bad that I could barely dial Katie's number. I hit the call button and got her voice-mail. I tried again and she picked up and I explained what happened. When we said goodbye my dad got home.

     
     “The police aren't sure how it happened yet, but her car was upside-down in the ditch and she had been thrown from her car. They took her to Dublin Methodist Hospital and they are going to work on her there. I gave them her dad's phone number and address so they can get a hold of her parents.” My dad said. They had given him her purse because he was technically family.

     
     “Is she going to be okay?” I asked, still shaking.

     
     “I told the cop that was there that you and her had just been together. He didn't go into detail but he told me to tell you to prepare for the worst.” He said giving me a hug. I was numb. “I'm going to take her purse with me and go to the hospital. Do you want to go with me.” All I could do was nod my head yes.

     
     As we pulled into the hospital, we saw the helicopter take off. We went inside and asked for her and the nurses explained that they had just transported her to Grant Medical Center. My pastor and his wife were there with Trina's parents. We all got back in out cars and went to Grant. We got there around one o'clock. The nurses there took us to the ICU waiting area. Finally Katie got there. I went to her and gave her a hug and we sat next to each other. A few more family members had come to be there for her parents.

     
     I got home around five thirty in the morning and went to bed. That day was a haze. I went to school but I wasn't in the mood to work. I couldn't focus. I just wanted to go back to the hospital. The end of the day couldn't come soon enough.

     
     The next day, Tuesday, I got up and went to school like normal. At the end of the day I was walking out to my car. I glanced at my phone and saw I had a voice-mail from my mom. I listened to it right away.

     
     “Rosanna, you need to call me back right away. Trina's parents have decided to take her off life support. Katie and her parents are going down soon and they said that they could give you a ride down there if you want to go.”

     
     I started crying right there in the hallway. I was shaking so hard I thought I was going to fall down. I hurried out to my car and went home. I was still crying when I called Katie to tell her that I would like a ride to the hospital.

     
     When we got there my friend, Janelle, was there. I went back to see Trina one last time with her and Katie. We gathered around her and we sang one of her favorite songs.

     
     I finally went home around ten o'clock and she was pronounced dead at eleven forty-five. Her family decided her funeral would be that Saturday and they wanted my parents to help with the singing. The rest of the week went by so slowly.

     
     Saturday finally arrived. She had a lovely service. I helped with the singing and it all went well. I still don't know how I was able to do that. We buried her at my church. We all gathered around her grave and sang hymns. I couldn't sing. I was crying too hard. I had lost my grandpa in November the year before and this was just a reminder of how short life is.

     
     Trina was the sweetest girl I've ever known. She used to come into the room, look at me and say, “Hello beautiful girl.” I would shrug my shoulders and tell her that she needed glasses and she would assure me that her eyes were perfect. She made a huge impact on my life and I wouldn't trade the time we had together for anything. I still miss her and I always will. I just look forward to the day when I get to see her and my grandpa again.

I love you Trina!