Friday 4 January 2008

On......the aftermath of the accident

He thumped the car brakes. The action was a token one. The impact was to be full and comprehensive. Metal, glass and acrylic fused with skin and bone, forcefully and finally. The horrific union was interrupted only by the perforation of human organs. Wounds shortly gave way to the lamentation and gushing of blood. The thick viscous liquid disregarded the amalgam of metal and flesh, flowing freely and disdainfully in various directions, relentlessly seeking all available avenues in its escape. The pain, as is often the case, was the last thing to come. It arrived, like a corrupt dictator, with an unnecessary entourage and staggered ceremony. It had neither the courtesy nor the consideration to fixate itself in the areas of direct impact. It raced through his entire body with the speed of a bush fire in the harmattan months. The accident was complete save for the immovable, irrefutable shock that transfixes its victim. The kind of shock that causes temporary paralysis and tricks the mind into believing, for a split second, that your injuries are not severe.


This was not yet the time for remorse or for reflection. This was not the time to mentally recreate the events that led to the accident, to question what manoeuvres could have been executed differently to avoid the pedestrian and the traffic light.

This was not the time for pity and penance. It was not yet time to question the madness of drinking the cocktails of vodka, tequila, gin and that obscure punch drink yet still insisting that you had the wherewithal to drive home. This was not the time to curse the friends who should have wrestled you to the ground and ordered you a taxi.

This was not the time for regret or repentance. This was no time to start thinking about loss and the overwhelming baggage that it brings with it. It was not time to think about the two seconds it took you to partially overtake the car in front of you. Two seconds for a lifetime of guilt. A poor trade.

All those emotions are for another day as you lay in the hospital bed recovering from your wounds, praying that God give you the strength to one day recover from the mental anguish of stealing the lives of two people.

This was the time to feel scared, helpless and mortal as you remain attached to the dashboard, with the lifeless body of your best friend by your side and the other hapless victim somewhere between the car, the road and the leaning traffic light.

This was the time for realisation and revoked responsibility.

43 comments:

Arewa said...

Tragic, sad and so real....(I hope ur just being ur creative self again!?)

Ms. Catwalq said...

Dang...thought I would be number one...
am just reserving space. Off to read

Ms. Catwalq said...

There are these ads that run in the US. They start typically with some footage from a home video showing some individual(s) doing something random, fun and lively. Then the dates of their deaths would flash across the screen and the words: VICTIMS OF DRUNK DRIVING.

I don't drink and I have little tolerance for those who do in excess and then go out to jeopardise the lives of others. It is selfish and unfair.

And this is properly written. Can you send it to people to read? Maybe they think the seriousness of this is a fashion statement....

Anonymous said...

so tragic.

bighead said...

There's plenty of skill in your write up. I can almost feel the pain of the victims

Flowers and Poetry said...

Atutu, I've read all your posts and I must admit I was pushed to that glorious brink between an awe-filled smile and tears, from sheer joy at the beauty of your mind; an amazing bitter-sweet feeling that can only be described as Joy in it's purest form. Well done!!

Naapali said...

Ah2-2; your topic and delivery is frighteningly real. In the time it took you to write it it had become someone's reality. Like others I hope this reality is not one you have shared because we love you and wish you are spared the pain you captured so eloquently.

My brother from different parents, I hope u are still planning your drive through the states and do remember Route 66 starts in Chicago!

In my head and around me said...

Happy New Year! All the Best.

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

ah, you updated! okay let me go read your post.

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

Well written, as always. It was so sad, but the imagery you portrayed was crystal clear and impeccable.

Waffarian said...

Damn good. Have been wondering what you were going to write...funny enough, I guessed almost right. I knew it was going to be something "tragic". Well done...gripping....damn.

Joy Akut said...

felt like i was watching it happen...at least it was only an ER that was visited and not the mogue.how lucky

its so sad that despite the reality we see and hea of everyday of the havocs of DUI, we've still got peeps who just dont care or believe it'd ever be them on the 9 o'clock news as the crash victims.

Onome said...

blood...gore....pain(waaahhaaahhaaa!!!!!)

princesa said...

I was coming to cry for you if you hadnt updated dude.

This was powerful. As always am in loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

I cant bear the thot of killing someone even if by accident. Its something that will haunt a person ever after life.

Afolabi said...

this is one sombre post...I hope you're just being creative and not reflective of something real.

Ms. emmotions said...

u have a way wit words u naw, am a bit confuse tho, is this real?

i hope not, compliments dude.

Anonymous said...

As usual Atutu, this is another brilliant post. Clean, kind and very relevant.
Very strong imagery. It 's like something I have watched instead of just read.

And you got me here with such powerful metarphor, about the pain: arrived, like a corrupt dictator, with an unnecessary entourage and staggered ceremony.
kai!
Altogether lovely. Make we film am turn am to advert na... what u say?

By the way, Happy New year.

Bitchy said...

Eek! Toots, is this a sign of things to come blog post-wise in 2008? Out with the morbid and in with the fluff!! That's my new (actually, old) motto :)

How are you? Hope 2008 is fully of blessings and all other goodies. Oh and I loooved the "corrupt dictator" metaphor. Fantastic! Xxx

UnNaked Soul said...

DUI!!! hmmm... I don't so much enjoy driving, and certainly won't do it non compos mentis...

At that point, all that really matters truly is coming to a realisation of the deed.

well done son!

so why you no land the zone now? no tell me, I know... breaking out of that joint isn't as easy as they portray it on PRISON BREAK... LMAO!!!

Happy New Year bro!

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

Uncle Atutu: This is the year where I make sure that i show appreciation and give respect when it is due.

Your recent comments at my Nigerian Curiosity blog on Ribadu are 'on point'. No other way to express myself. The situation is touchy and I wonder why our 'leaders' are not more mindful of their actions during such a time of confusion and uncertainty.

Anyway, I thank you for always participating at Nigerian Curiosity and my ...Easier... blog. And, no! no be me wey cause nuclear accident oh! lol!

Take care, bro!

Anonymous said...

A tragedy, dude...

Afrobabe said...

Gosh...I hope I never get that feeling...there..now you have traumatised me into not ever learning to drive again...

sigh...a life of cabs/bus/okada....

*light comes on* smile..
maybe i'll be able to afford a driver...

Femme said...

you evoke graphic visuals and i dont like blood.

Queen of My Castle said...

Wow, such imagery. Your way with words is astonishing. Is there an emotion that you have NOT evoked in the midst of your writings. The writers here are on strike. Now might be a good time to showcase your abilities the the Writer's Guils of America. You could quite possibly write for the upcoming Oscars! LOL

Queen of My Castle said...

Yeah, that was supposed to be showcase your abilities TO the Writers Guild of America.

Obinwanne said...

very good writting...i can almost feel it in me.....you r creative sha... happy new year

el~correcta said...

i once brushed the side of an old lady.weather it was my fault or not remains to be known,but i felt really bad about myself for therest of that day.Can't imagine hitting people dead!

You have a way with words.

♥♫♪nyemoni♫♪♥ said...

Sad one Atutu...but you got skillz for shizzle! Have a good year bro!

Joy Isi Bewaji said...

happy new year atu!

flawsandall said...

my one and only atutu. praising ur writing skill will once again sound redundant. great write up..i hope this will create an awareness for anyone who thinks they can drive when intoxicated..ohh happy new year

guerreiranigeriana said...

wow!!...that was intense on sooo many levels...the accident and it's cause...the emotions and feelings described...your magnificent handle and use of the english language...i am floored...beautiful and bittersweet...moving...shames my analysis of yahoozee...(thanks by the way...)..*walks away wondering where she was when God was giving out the beautiful gift of writing*...

bumight said...

this feels so real, I can almost see the leaning traffic light...I'm going back to happy thots!

Arewa said...

ok ok u got me!!

TheAfroBeat said...

"It arrived, like a corrupt dictator, with an unnecessary entourage and staggered ceremony."

CLASSIC! I hope this story is fiction but even if it is, it's surely fact for millions of people out there. Great post!

Kafo said...

well said

Jennifer A. said...

*Sigh* The number of deaths that drunk driving has produced is a tragedy!

laspapi said...

I'm glad I don't drink. This was too graphic.
Happy new year, atutupoyoyo.

John said...

Wow! vivid, leaving prints on one's mental.....
Nice one... assuming it's not real, but if it were, my my, tragic!

Ms. Catwalq said...

Oya update now...wetin?

Onome said...

i weak ooooo.....guy!!! o gini?

Hengish said...

First time here.
Amazing blog.
I like your titles even more.

N.I.M.M.O said...

The moral of the story is 'Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk'. Right?

Nice

Omodudu said...

two thumbs...now you made me go thru post traumatic stress all over again.
Once had a guy stuck under my car after a crash...it was sickening.