I almost died at twenty-one In January, driving northbound on Abbott Rd the car in front of us slammed their brakes down hard and slid off onto the right-hand shoulder We were probably following too close, but I honestly can't remember We swerved into the turn lane and lost control when we hit a patch of black ice that would carry us right into the unavoidable path of a Saturn barreling south in the opposite direction My life did not flash before my eyes I was trying to steer the van anywhere else as time ground to a halt and froze Then exploded violently as metal collapsed into metal at a horrific speed There is always enough time to do the things you love (until it's gone)