tragedy averted

I get up at 1:30am and find my son in the other room, still wide awake.

We talk briefly and I go back to sleep. 

The next time I see him is at 6:45am. Alexander has come in my room to tell me he's leaving to head back to Philadelphia.

"Did you get enough sleep to drive?" I ask. 

"Ya, I'm fine," he responds.

Around nine my phone rings; it's Alexander.

"Hi, are you home yet?" I ask, figuring that's why he's calling. I always like to know when he arrives at his destination after a long drive.

"No, but listen. I'm fine." And before I can question that odd remark he continues.

"You were absolutely right. I should have listened to you." I have no idea where this is going.

"Look, I'm totally okay but I guess I was too tired. And I started to doze off. Just for a second. But in that short amount of time, I lost control of the car and drove into a concrete embankment. The car started smoking, and..."

I think around this point I stop listening and my mind fills with horrid imagery.   But my son is on the phone. I am talking to him. And he sounds fine. Serious. Rational. And calm.

The seat belt, the airbags, and a last-minute decision to swerve saved his life.

The car is totaled. The chances of surviving a crash at 70 miles per hour on a 4-line highway is not good. 

My son is so very blessed.

The NJ State Troopers who stopped soon after the accident were helpful, despite giving him three tickets. Alexander did not have to go to a hospital but he did go to a walk-in clinic later. 

He's a little bruised but appears to have no serious injuries.

I am not a religious person, but I do believe in God. And today he was watching over my child.