What you are about to read is a true event that happened to
me (October 18-23rd) of 2006.
Theres are girl in Hawaii
named Serena that I met on hotornot. I just
randomly matched her on accident because I thought she was hot – but her
profile says shes taken already and blah blah (I guess I didn’t see this
part). So I get her match and get her
msn screen name and we start chatting.
At first I thought she wasn’t interested and typed one word answers back
to me so I was about to stop wasting my time and move on until she told me to
call her because apparently, shes not much of a typer. I called her and it was 1am pacific time, so three hours back is Hawaii time. Its 10pm
then and we get to talking, small talk and like this girl is already making fun
of me and I don’t even know her yet… but I don’t stand for any of that. I make comebacks she can’t recover from and
we end up just joking and talking for a good
hour. We talked every now and then on
msn and she tells me one late night before I was about to take off for Boston
and NYC that she really likes me and stuff.
I say ok. We talked off and on
while I was in NYC and Boston but being 6 hrs ahead is difficult, but we talked
some and she usually falls asleep because she wakes up at 4am for work and we
are talking at 10pm her time…
Get back from NYC and we txt, msn, and call each other
sparingly and finally she gets back to me that she will be in CA in November
for a conference thing for her work and we should meet then. I agree, but the location for the conference
is unknown. Then it becomes Pomona,
maybe santa ana, maybe here or
there. Finally she finds out from her
boss that it will be in Sacramento
and during the middle of the week. I
can’t really drop my school and business to visit her for a bit 7 hrs away,
plus I didn’t really want go that far, I thought she would be relatively
local. We were planning this for a while
because we are both super busy but wanted to meet finally and the plans just
weren’t going to work out, so we both were honestly probably frustrated,
irritated, and disappointed. I thought
we gave up. So we stopped talking for
like 2 weeks, until…
Its Monday night after small group, Im on the computer
again. I get a MSN message from Serena,
but I can tell the way she is typing and ‘sounding’ that its not her.
Here is the LOG:
Serena’s SN:
who is this
Justin says:
please...
Serena’s SN:
this is not serena
Justin says:
who is this?
Serena’s SN:
Her cousin
Justin says:
are you guys alright over there
Serena’s SN:
Serena was in a car wreck
Justin says:
wow is she alright?
Serena’s SN:
Serena's not in Hawaii
Serena’s SN:
she's here in California
Justin says:
im in CA...
Justin says:
is she alright though?
Serena’s SN:
she is not im afraid to say
Justin says:
omg
Justin says:
what the hell happened?
Serena’s SN:
she came here to meet some guy
down LA area but she came up here to see her family first
Serena’s SN:
and last night she was driving
home from dinner and someone bangged her on the passenger side
Justin says:
was that guy me?
Serena’s SN:
i meant drivers side
Serena’s SN:
i dont know
Justin says:
shes alright though, in the hospital or
what
Serena’s SN:
no
Serena’s SN:
she's bleeding alot in the
inside
Serena’s SN:
are you the asian guy? sorry
for putting it that way...Justin?
Justin says:
yes
Serena’s SN:
yeah she was going to see you
Justin says:
but that was supposed to be in nov...
and she was going to sacramento instead...
Justin says:
damn I really hope shes ok
Justin says:
let me try and call her
Serena’s SN:
she's on vacation til nov
Serena’s SN:
sad way to have a vacation
Justin says:
yeaaaaaaaa seriously, plus she never
goes on vacation
Justin says:
whats her hospital/room #/and shit
Serena’s SN:
lemme check
Justin says:
so I can at least send flowers or
something
Serena’s SN:
i dont have the info but if
youre online tomorrow i can give it to you because im gonna go and visit her
Justin says:
ok great, yea if you could do that just IM me here,
i have this on even though I wont be here, leave me a message with the info. I would appreciate that, I just talked to
her though
Serena’s SN:
how is she
Justin says:
or email or something. I just feel really
bad
Justin says:
shes alright, she says the doctors are
keeping a close eye on her, shes been resting all day
Justin says:
she said she hurts all over though and
doesnt remember much
Serena’s SN:
i could imagine
Justin says:
yea well take care of her when u see
her tomorrow
Serena’s SN:
alright
Justin says:
whats your name?
Serena’s SN:
Jen
Justin says:
ok Jen, let me know the info tomorrow
when you get a chance, I would really appreciate it
Serena’s SN:
ok
Serena’s SN:
good night
Justin says:
take care
*apparently a truck hit her driver’s side of her car coming
home from dinner, it was the truck’s fault
So I call Serena in the hospital on Wednesday the 18th. Shes sounds alright, but tired and
exhausted. I make sure shes ok and think
to myself that she’ll be fine in a couple of days.
Friday I partied all night at bars and did the same on
Thursday so I was a bit tired when Saturday rolled around and I had to also
wake up early to have to drive to Brentwood for art
class. Anywho I took it easy that night
and watched ‘The Prestige’ with a couple buddies of mine (we snuck chili’s big
mouth burgers in and ate it during the movie).
It was a good movie, so I proceeded home after my friend Rudi dropped me
off. I get home, check my email and I
have a MSN message (since I leave it on ‘away’ when I’m gone). I knew from the first message it was NOT
serena and I was a guy. No woman usually
calls you ‘man.’ By now here cousins and
family already know who I am… because she was coming to see me.
Heres the Log:
Serena’s SN:
you there man?
Justin says:
yes
Justin says:
now I am
Justin says:
r u there?
Serena’s SN:
dude you there
Justin says:
hey
Serena’s SN:
sorry man...
Justin says:
hows serena
Serena’s SN:
Serena passed away yesterday
morning
Justin says:
you better not be fucking around
Serena’s SN:
no man
Justin says:
whoever this is, just call me
please
Justin says:
949-***-****
Serena’s SN:
ok
Justin says:
r u going to call?
Justin says:
im really fucked up right now.......
Serena’s SN:
drunk fucked?
Justin says:
no emotionally come on man
Serena’s SN:
hold on
Justin says:
whoever this is, call me so I know
whats going on...
Justin says:
949-***-**** or 949-***-****
You have just sent a
Nudge!
*he doesn’t call for a while, so I call my friend Nathan and
I talked to him crying as I just lost it. This is fucking horrible. Unexpected and I was just
asking God: Why? I was emotionally
distraught and really really sad. I felt
partly responsible for what happened, because she was partly here to see
me. Nathan comforts me and lets me know
that its not my fault and to hang in there.
The mystery guy calls (I’m assuming he was a family member). He says his name is Zack but I heard
‘JACK.’ Oh well I kept calling him Jack,
and talk to him and ask him how he’s hanging in there and im still crying
barely able to talk to him. He tells me
that she stopped breathing Friday and everyone is absolutely devastated. I try and tell him that I want to make it out
there for the funeral to pay my respects and to promise me let me know what the
plans are. I’m just
so sad for her little brother who is 4.
Serena’s parents passed away recently so she is all he has as far as
family. My thoughts are racing, my blood
is pulsing, my mind is just numb with shock
and sadness. I cannot even start
regarding the tragedy with her brother.
I thank him and tell him they all will be in my prayers. I just
remember crying, praying, and pleading.
I needed strength to get through this.
I left messages on my friend Rachel’s cell phone. I’m just
really fucked up by now. I’m calling
friends, but most people are sleeping.
Rachel calls back and we talk and I tell her what happens. She comforts me and prays for me over the
phone. (thanks for the Prayer Rachel! –
It means sooo much to me!) She definitely
helped me get through that night. I just remember listening to FORT MINOR: Where’d You Go and it made me break down so
badly. I know Serena and I both love Linkin Park, and she especially likes Mike Shinoda (who I know)
so this song really hit home. I had
an important meeting at 10am so it
was about 3:30am after we finished
talking, so I hit the shower and try to get some sleep. I was so exhausted from being both physically
and emotionally spent that I fall sleep immediately.
So I wake up, get to my meeting, have lunch with some
friends (didn’t tell them what happened), try to act like nothing is bothering
me but deep down inside I’m hurting bad and its eating me up, I take a much
needed nap, so I know I should go to church so I go. The message is on generosity. Big boy calls me right after I get out of
church and we are going to meet up at my place to get some dinner around
8. So everyone arrives: Rudi, Jesus (big
boy), and Juan (big boy’s brother).
Since rudi doesn’t eat anything but cheese, bread, and chicken he
refuses to go to a Japanese place. So we
have to make a concession by eating at PF Changs.
Things have just
been put in perspective for me. Life is
WAY TOO SHORT is what I have been saying over and over the past day. I feel that its time to start living now, and
to seize the day and to live to the fullest.
Now I feel that things I’ve put so much importance on, aren’t really
important. Love is important, life is,
family and friends are. Everything else
is just icing on the cake. I wanted to change, I wanted to live life for
God’s purpose.
Rudi refuses to drive so I offer to drive and everyone piles
in the car, I hit Zack up on MSN.
Everyone is waiting in the car and stupid Rudi honks the horn, but I get
this …
Justin says:
did you find anything more about the funeral jack?
Serena’s SN:
brb
Justin says:
please let me know the details for the funeral so I can book the
plane tickets bro
Justin says:
be back later
Serena’s SN:
something happened late last night
Justin says:
what happened
Serena’s SN:
she started breathing again
Justin says:
what
Justin says:
and?
Serena’s SN:
docs are trying their hardest to keep her from falling back out
Justin says:
so shes still alive?
Serena’s SN:
she came back
Justin says:
what the hell... omg this is crazy stuff
Serena’s SN:
tell me about it
Justin says:
can i call you now
Serena’s SN:
not yet
Justin says:
alright bro, ill call you after I have dinner
Justin says:
or call me when you get a chance
Justin says:
this is awesome
Justin says:
im so glad shes breathing
Serena’s SN:
will do
Justin says:
thanks man!
Justin says:
what an answer to prayer
Serena’s SN:
chin up man
Justin says:
you too
Justin says:
CALL ME !!! 949-***-****
when you get a chance Jack... thanks man!
Serena’s SN:
btw
Serena’s SN:
its Zack
Justin says:
hey zack hows things
Serena’s SN:
shes fine
Serena’s SN:
hey man if you wanna call her you can, i gave her phone back to
her
Justin says:
OMG im so happy bro
Justin says:
shes awake?
Serena’s SN:
well i jus came
back from the hospital
*As soon as I read she had her phone, and was doing better. A massive feeling of relief filled my soul
and body. It was a revelation. My shock was even more intense and I just
could not believe for myself after all these events. I reached for the phone and immediately
dialed her number. 1 ring… 2 ring….3
ring, 4…. I was starting to get worried she wouldn’t pick up and I was
imagining this or it was some sort of sick joke. RINNNGGGG, she picks up. I can hear a faint voice that sounds like
her. I was like OMG… this is
UNREAL. This is AMAZING, I’m just
so happy to hear her voice. I’m smiling
while talking to her. She tells me that
she is doing alright and that she thought she was asleep and just
woke up and was like ‘what the hell?’
She sounds weak, but I know inside shes happy but just
exhausted on the outside. I told her she
scared me shitless and that I was sooo glad just
to hear from her. Its like a
miracle. She told me her pulse dropped
and she stopped breathing on Friday and the doctors pronounced her dead Friday
morning. She said that the doctor didn’t
sign something and that’s why she didn’t get carted away or what not? I guess?
Who knows, who cares. Its just
a BEAUTIFUL MIRACLE. I hope anyone that
reads this knows that life is TOO SHORT, tell everyone YOU LOVE THAT YOU LOVE
THEM TODAY. She is still her old self
saying that ‘maybe its not her time to go.’
We both agree that everyday is now a gift. So start living. She says she misses me and wants to see me
soon. I tell her to get better first and
we’ll take it one step at a time. She
also told me that Zack told her that he thinks I took things the hardest. I don’t know why, but I just
loose it when a friend or anyone I know dies.
I can’t detach myself from feeling human… this was once a tragedy, now
is an explosion of life.
Its just like one moment
your talking to her and shes recovering in the hospital, the next shes dead,
then the next day shes back… this is just
AMAZING. I cannot explain
otherwise. I called Rachel right after
and told her, she was stunned, and amazed too.
Thanks for the prayer and support guys!
I told my friends who were over at the house right after, I told them at
dinner, but now they were absolutely SHOCKED!
I cannot believe this happened, but it did. Another lesson in life, that life is fragile
and can be taken at any time. Its an inspiring story that is nothing short of a miracle. People ask if miracles exist – and I have to
say yes.
Live and
Love today…
- Justin
If you want to comment or say something,
Hit me up
on:
AIM: H0L0grafik
OR email me at: justin@importupgrade.com
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