Los Angeles, CA

"Our day at school is oh-ver and we are going ho-ome.

Good-bye, good-bye, be always kind and true...

Good-bye, good-bye, be always kind and true."

Erin sang happily with her class of Kindergarteners. The end of school bell rang loudly and the class bustled obediently to their line in front of the door ready to walk into the hall for dismissal.

"Student 126," the secretary called over the loudspeaker.

"OK, Jeremy, that's you," Erin called to her student, gesturing for him to come to the door. "Handshake, high-five or a hug, buddy?"

"High-five!" Jeremy answered cheerfully, giving Erin an enthusiastic high-five with a loud clap before hastening out the door of the chatter filled classroom heavy laden with an all too big backpack.

Each student at Erin's PreK-Academy school was given a number on their first day of attendance. That number was called out by the secretary when the student's ride was at the front door of the school. The teacher on "walk-out" duty then escorted the child to their car. This method prevented students from leaving without their teachers' knowledge and also prevented names that sounded too similar from getting mixed up, resulting in the wrong student called.

Each student eventually was picked up. A rare feat. Erin waved them off, wishing them to have a good rest of their day along with a cheerful promise see them tomorrow.

Now alone, Erin retrieved the disinfectant cloths from a cupboard and wiped down each table, pencil box, door knob and handle degerming the most touched items in her classroom. Next, she collected the papers done that day and placed them in her bag to take home and grade. The last task was putting away the centers used that day and setting out the materials for the next days projects.

Once the classroom was tidy and ready for tomorrow, it was time for her favorite part of the day. Erin slipped her teal raincoat over her white blouse and heather gray skirt, tying the belt at her front, slung her teacher bag over a shoulder then quickly headed toward the preschool at the end of the south hall, smiling with happy anticipation.

"Mommy!" her favorite voice called. Erin was immediately greeted with the best hug any mother could wish for.

"Hi, sweetie!" Erin replied with equal enthusiasm, hugging back tightly. "How was your day? Did you learn anything new?"

"Yes!" Ashlynn jumped up and down a few times as she replied then ran over to her cubby and got her art project from that day. "Rainbows always happen after rain because of God's promise to never flood us out again!"

To emphasize her learning point, Ashlynn excitedly held up her paper of a beautiful watercolor rainbow. Erin couldn't be more proud.

"That is correct, sweetie. It's a beautiful picture and I know the perfect spot on the fridge for it," Erin giggled as Ashlynn squealed in delight.

Erin was a very proud mom. Ashlynn was bright, happy and eager to learn. She had always loved books even before she could walk. Despite that, Erin made a calculated decision to have Ashlynn do one more year of preschool. Her birthday was too far after what state law declared so she gave Ashlynn the gift of time. One of the biggest hopes Erin had for her daughter was success. This extra time would greatly help with that, giving more time to mature in every developmental facet.

The mother-daughter pair happily shared about each other's day as they retreated down the hallway toward Erin's classroom. She collected her teacher bag, slinging it over her shoulder as Ashlynn chattered away about all the things her class did that day. Now it was out to the car to head home.

As the duo pulled out of the school parking lot, Erin knew what question was formulating in Ashlynn's mind. The wheels churning were visible by the pursed lips and twiddling fingers of her munchkin in the back seat. Bright, sky blue orbs crinkled on the sides from a playful smirk, clicked up to the rear view mirror. Ashlynn's clever, always active mind never failed to be thinking up something. In 3...2...

"Hey, Mommy?" Ashlynn asked, smiling innocently. 1...Bingo.

"Yes, Jelly Bean?" Erin answered eyes flicking up, smiling wide now, knowing full well what was coming.

Ashlynn grinned, their eyes meeting in the rear view mirror. "Can we listen to Phantom of the Opera, please? The drum one?"

"Of course, sweetie." All Erin had to do was hit the ON button for the car CD player, pressing the skip button to que the CD on song #6,The Phantom of the Opera. The drums in the introduction of the song started along with their daily routine.

This musical was their current obsession.

Singing their hearts out, Erin and Ashlynn filled the air and ears of other drivers around them with the popular musical. Pulling to a stop at the red light, another popular request, Music of the Night came on. Erin, unable to resist, began singing along.

Ashlynn sat in her booster seat, smiling out her window enjoying the timbre of her mother's soprano voice. She gave a small wave, smiling politely at the driver in the car next to them. He smiled and waved back, shifting his gaze back to Erin with a mesmerizing sparkle. Her mom was oblivious that the stranger was listening to her unhindered singing.

Erin had cracked the windows, allowing a fresh breeze to flow into the car on this perfectly mild October day in sunny southern California, carrying the aroma of promised rain. Neither of the passengers cared that it also meant any other car with their windows down could hear them singing. At least they were on key and it was phenomenal music. Once the light turned green, Erin slid her foot to the gas pedal, urging the car to resume driving as she continued to sing.

Then their normal, happy drive home changed dramatically.

Everything happened so fast, yet moved in slow motion.

The loud screeching of brakes hit Erin's ears from her left drawing her wide eyed attention. What horrible inevitability she surveyed made her blood run cold. She slammed on the brakes, knowing she couldn't outdrive or outmaneuver the car speeding toward them. The other car had run the opposite red light and now came barreling toward Erin's car, completely out of control. The wide eyes of the other driver flashed with fear, mirroring her own.

Erin pivoted toward Ashlynn with tears glistening in her eyes in that brief yet precious moment before the inevitable impact.

"I love you," Erin whispered as she reached out, taking and squeezing her daughter's small hand.

"I love you, too," Ashlynn answered happily, totally oblivious to what was coming. She was used to her mom randomly and lovingly expressing herself freely.

"Close your eyes," Erin gently demanded. "God, protect her," Erin pleaded upward in a whisper, her eyes closing just before the sickening crash and crunch of metal against metal.

On impact, they both were roughly jerked, rocked around by the skidding of their car. A nasty odor of burning rubber filled the air. The impact was so hard, the car violently spun three times like a top, thankfully not hitting any other cars. Ashlynn was secure in her safety restraint and booster behind the passenger seat buckled into the opposite side of the impact.

Erin was a different story.

The other car pummeled the corner of the drivers side of Erin's car with such vengeful force, her head smashed into the side window, temporarily stunning her. The high pitched ringing blaring in her ears was horribly deafening. Stars twinkling in her vision dizzifying.

Once the car stopped ran out of momentum and ceased spinning, Erin couldn't move. She couldn't speak or turn to make sure Ashlynn was ok. She could only be still, pinned down between her seatbelt and deployed airbag. Erin opened her eyes to look around. At least when she moved her fingers and toes, they obeyed.

The other car was crushed into hers, smoke pouring upward out of both engines. Driver's from neighboring cars who witnessed the impact rushed to grab them out but Erin's vision was tunneling. The ringing quieted enough that she could faintly hear Ashlynn's muffled but frantic sounding voice but she couldn't comprehend what exactly her daughter was saying.

If she's talking, she's ok.

Erin blinked as she tried to move her head but inwardly scolded herself because that small movement made her head spin from the sharp, stinging pain and the ringing to return blaring at full volume. She groaned, closing her eyes and tried to relax. Like that was even possible as her heart pounded with adrenaline. Erin cautiously tried to open her eyes again but everything was blurry. Tunnel vision began to take over again, drastically limiting her sight. Helplessness took over with the falling of a few tears and Erin let the darkness takeover, oblivious to the man trying fiercely to pry her door open.