The Old Man with the Walker

Mayra
Hernandez 2020 Drivers ed Essay Contest

The
Old Man with the Walker

My
sister and I were on our way to deliver cupcakes to a friend. It was
a thank you to her for helping me out with a fundraiser. Luckily, we
were still less than a mile away from home when I realized I forgot
something. I told my sister, and though irritated, she agreed to make
a U-turn at the next light. Waiting for the light to turn green, I
looked around and appreciated the beautiful sunny day it was. The sky
and the streets were both clear, and the sun’s warmth hugged every
inch of my skin. To my left, I saw an old man with a walker at the
crosswalk waiting for his turn to cross. Something about him
resonated with me. I felt a tug at my heart.

The
light turns green.

My
sister proceeds to make the U-turn, a bit wide but within reason. My
focus strayed, but in an instant I yelled her name and she stopped.
She too noticed that the man was about to cross– he was off the
sidewalk and in the bike lane. There was an intense fear inside me I
could not explain. All I could feel was terror and sadness for and
towards the man. The only thought in my head was, “Please
do not cross. Please, please, please.” The
man did not continue and we returned home.

Less
than five minutes later, we arrived again at the same intersection we
were just at. The same intersection where I felt so much terror. The
same intersection where I had a feeling something would go wrong.
Emergency vehicles had arrived and EMTs were assisting someone, I
couldn’t see who. As my sister continued driving, I saw a walker,
fallen sideways on the street next to all the chaos, and my heart
dropped. The man had been hit and killed.

That
day, February 2nd, 2018, ceased to be beautiful. Someone had lost
their father, their grandfather, their friend. Someone had lost their
life.

I
can’t explain the way that I somehow knew it would happen, but I
can say that those moments will stay with me forever. I saw some of
that man’s last moments of life, and I know his death could have
been prevented– he couldn’t have run into the street too fast for
someone to stop for him. Always pay attention to the crosswalks and
sidewalks, regardless of the color of the light, and regardless of
who has the right of way. Do so in honor of the Old Man with the
Walker, and those with similar fates.