Stars

This is a poem that was written by a friend of mine for the Every 15 Minutes program done at our high school last year. She was one of the "fatalities" in the simulated crashed.

Stars
I lay awake at night
And look up at the stars bright
Remembering of times passed
And how it could never last
Of when we were young
And the songs that we sung
Secrets that we shared
Now my life can never be repaired.
As I look into your casket and see your face
Not a hair out of place,
I know these special memories can never erase
That fateful night when you were struck
By that man with beer in his truck
He took away my star
When he hit your compact car.
Everyday your loss I grieve
Though I know you never meant to leave.
I can get through this pain and see another day
The skies will become less gray
The hurt will relieve
If I just believe.

By: Loraine Cuevas

Her thoughts on the experience were sobering, as she later shared with the students that gathered at the assembly the day after the simulated crash took place. "As I looked up at the ceiling of the coroner's van from inside the body bag I thought about how many people had laid there before me. Their goals, dreams, aspirations and their lives had ended right here in the back of this van where I now lie. I thought about my life and how I took so much for granted. I feel like this experience has truly given me a second chance at life."