Dug was driving me home from school on a snowy Tuesday in December, in his mom’s old, red minivan. I’ve been dating Dug for two years now, since Sophomore year of highschool. Dug had always been a good driver, so I thought nothing of it when the roads were a little bit icy. A car suddenly swerved in our direction and crashed into us harshly. I don’t remember what happened after that. But then I woke up in the E.R. with my mom, Nancy right beside.
“Oh sweety, I was so worried about you. Are you okay?” Mom asked.
“Yeah.” I could barely mumble out the words to her.
“Dad will be here soon, he has to be extra careful on the roads after hearing about you.” my mom explained.
“Where’s Dug?” I asked worriedly.
To my relief, my mom said, “He is in the other room, thankfully, he survived with only a few cuts and bruises.”
Everything was going to be okay. I was okay, Dug was okay. My life would be back to normal pretty soon. After about thirty minutes, my dad, Ralph, came to see me.
“Hey pumpkin, how is my angel doing?” Dad asked.
“Good, I just have a few bruises here and there and a rash from the seatbelt, but that’s it. They are going to do more tests just to really make sure I’m okay, but I feel great!” I replied.
“I’m glad to hear that, I was so worried about you.”

I stayed in the hospital overnight and in the morning, I went to go see Dug.
“Duggy! You’re okay!” I exclaimed.
“Mary! I have been waiting to see you!” He replied with joy. “I’m so sorry I caused all of this trouble but at least we’re both okay, after all, we have each other.”
“Yeah, I’m so glad we’re both alright,” I said.
Dug and I were released from the hospital that afternoon. We lived five minutes away from each other so we always got to be together. Dug and I rarely fight and have the ideal high school sweetheart relationship. Dug is always there for me and I am always there for him. We were both almost done with our senior year of high school. We both got scholarships to the same college at Ringdale University (one of the best in Mississippi). Dug was a star football player, and I was really smart. I was thrilled when I got accepted because Ringdale University has been my dream college for years, and I would be going with Dug, how perfect!

Fast forward to the summer going into our senior year of college. Everything was going great and I was on my way to being a doctor. Dug’s family invited my family on a trip to Florida. On the last day, Dug took me to the beach and walked me down a path of seashells leading to a beautiful cabana. I was already tearing up because I knew what he was about to ask me.
“Mary, I can’t believe we’ve come this far,” his voice quavered. “I can’t wait to see what our future has in store. Will you marry me?” he asked as tears were dripping down his face.
With absolutely no hesitation, I replied “YES!”
We were going to have our wedding early July the next year. At this point, you’re probably wondering what all of this has to do with a car crash, but just you wait.

July came before I knew it. It was my bridal shower, so I invited my mom, sisters, and closest friends. I was so excited for my wedding to happen the next day! Dug and I have been waiting forever to finally start a future together and everything was going to be perfect at my wedding. The morning of my wedding went slowly, I just couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle and see someone who used to be my high school crush, tearing up, and about to read his vows. I started walking down the aisle and all of my dreams came true.

The following year at Thanksgiving, Dug and I told our family, “We’re pregnant!”
I was so excited to finally be starting a family! It was July 28th, 2030 when our sweet Delilah was born, and then in 2035, our twins, Joey and Millie, were born. Dug and I had the dream family. Delilah was in kindergarten, and the twins were in daycare. I didn’t take my car to my shift at the hospital, so Dug dropped me off in the morning and picked me up in the afternoon on the way to get the kids. Because it was December, the roads were a little icy.. All of the cars were swerving and driving crazy.
“WATCH OUT DUG!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.
Suddenly, I awoke in a bright room with a beeping noise around me.
“Oh, Ralph, Mary is up, our baby is up!” my mom said as she was tearing up.
“What is going on?” I asked my parents.
“You were in a coma for four months, sweetheart. It is 2023 now,” My dad replied.
I couldn’t believe it, the last 12 years of my life were all in my head.
The doctor came in, “I’m so sorry, Mary, the trauma to your brain set you back, you are not able to go to college anymore.”
“No,” was all I could mumble out. No, it’s not true. “Where is Dug? I need to see him.”
My mom looked heartbroken, “I’m so.. Sorry.. Honey, Dug died on the way to the hospital. The impact from the crash was too much.”
My heart sank. It felt like a part of me died.
Dug was dead. I wasn’t going to my dream college. I wasn’t going to be a doctor. I didn’t have kids. My whole life was a lie. I had plans for my life and they were all crushed instantly. My life would never be the same again.