If I could change one thing, I would change the day you lost your confidence

You used to be so strong, bubly, and patient

You painted a path of joy that I eagerly followed

I looked up to you with pride and hope

We were sisters by blood, but best friends by heart

You were the first born, mom and dad's princess

Your smile could stop anyone... but it couldn't stop a car

August was so unexpected, it hit us all

With one phone call, my world shattered, nothing seemed real

Seeing you so crumpled and gray pained me

You looked so helpless, so weak and fragile

That wasn't you, that was not my sister

There was no sign of the independent woman I knew

Glass sprinkled the road and smoke fogged the air

Skid marks left a failed trail to the collision

I wanted to fall to my knees, but I knew you'd be brave if it were me

I dialed 911 with steady hand and spoke in a false tone of reassurance

I dreaded calling mom-- she always got mad when we were in trouble

When the paramedics told me to step back, I lost control

She was mine, my friend, my sister, my responsiblity

They had no right to take her away, not now, I wanted to be the hero

I wanted to help her, to return the favor for all those years

I wasn't allowed to see you till after surgery, time crawled by

When they escorted me back, I was so honored that you asked for me first

Walking through the door, I could immediately feel the gloom

The dreary lighting cast a gray mask over your already pale face

The cherry blush was gone from your cheeks, you wore a mask of pain

That day was the day you lost your confidenece

It broke you emotionally, physically; in every form

You tried in vain to hide your scars, to cover up the past

You made excuses for things you could no longer do

You shut out the ones who loved you most

"I can't", was your mind set

I know your life seemed to spiral down,

I know you think you lost it all

But the only thing you lost was your way

It opened new doors, doors to your wedding, to your favorite job, to a new house

I would change that day so you could see how lucky you are

You would still be living a routine life with no thrill

You would be living for a paycheck instead of a family

Time is an unpredictable virtue, but one thing I'm thankful for is that it will never turn back