We left early in the morning, the sky was turning gold and everything was still quite. I sat by the window, my heart light. Mama sat beside me, her hand resting gently on mine. Abba was in the front seat, laughing with driver. Ya Ahid and Adil were behind me, dozing off and whispering between themselves. I remember smiling. I remembered thinking, this is it... This is the moment every thing begins.
But life doesn't always wait for us to be ready. The rain started without warning-first soft, then heavy drowning the road in sheets of water. The windshield wipers danced furiously. I could barely see ahead. Then I heard the sound I can never forget.
Tyres skidding. The sharp terrified gasp from Mama. A loud horn. Bright headlights. The crash.
Metal screamed. Glass exploded. The world turned upside down. And then....