I was still young br and able bodied br searching- trying to find br what was to be my life br br Then one night br taking a walk br just six blocks br from our home br br Came a car br barreling at us br how I shouted br and I shoved br br My lover was safe br then I was hit br all went black br there went my life br br Seven days later br I awoke into Hell br dressed in bandages br pain and nothing more br br Vague visions br doctors and nurses br shouted whispers br exploding my head br br Words I heard: br brain damage, br paralysis, br and coma br br Surely not me br I am already dead br darkness overcomes br again I sleep br br Next I awaken br she's at my side br I examine her face br through slitted eyes br br I see her pain br and her fear br but what is this? br Do I see anger? br br The days pass me by br in a nightmare br constructed of pain br that became my life br br So many surgeries br piecing me together br Like ole' Humpty Dumpty br I'd never be whole again br br How I blamed them br for taking my right br to live or die br it was my life br br Months passed me by br and all the doctors br like the king's men br finally gave in br br Never again would I walk br But I'd have souvenirs- br the carved skin of scars, br a gift from the drunk br that took my life br br I went home br forever changed br now resented br by my 'love' br br Years of physical therapy br filled with added trauma br and I did the 'impossible' br Though I couldn't, I walked again br br Years passed me by br before I learned br no one- not the drunk, br doctors or my 'love' br could take what was mine- br br My Lifebr br Angela Davisbr br