I literally pray over the car every morning, and hold my breath over each pot hole I go over. If the Pioneers prayed over their oxen, I can pray over our car. 

It was an uneventful weekday when it happened. I was driving Grant to get a new laptop, and there was some congestion on University Avenue. It was a green light, but I couldn't go because the cars ahead of me were at a standstill. 

WHAM. 

That's when I felt it. A terrifying, jolt of monster-like energy hitting us from behind. I flew forward in my seat, and was slammed back against the chair. I was helpless. I didn't even see it coming. Grant, who was eating Cafe Rio in a glass bowl had the contents flying around the passenger seat and was visibly shaken. The driver was going at least 35 mph. We, were at a standstill.

Unfortunately, because I was already learning forward in my seat before the accident (think, "granny driver" because I was trying to see up ahead) I was slammed back further and got the brunt of the trauma. I pulled the car to the side and stumbled out. 

My head felt dizzy and my neck throbbed. 

"I'm fine," I mumbled. Clearly I was not. The girl who hit us looked sorry, but was honestly more worried about her insurance rates going up. The police took our information, and we were on our way. I was so shaken up I could barely drive. It didn't help that I felt woozy. 

In hindsight, the biggest mistake I made was not getting evaluated by a doctor after the accident.
To be fair, this was my first accident I had been in. In all the movies I have seen, you only report injuries if you are bleeding from your ears and can't remember your name.

Months later I still suffer from the whiplash. I can barely chew my sandwich at work because of the jaw pain, Sometimes, I try to talk less to the students because my jaw clenches. I bought a special pillow to help me sleep at night. Still, sometimes the pain is unbearable. For example, last week I came home from work and had the most intense pain on the right side of my neck. I couldn't move, talk, or even swallow. I waited desperately in a corner of the kitchen floor until Calvin could come home and help me. He gently massaged my neck and applied hot compresses until I could at least able to swallow or talk. It scared us both.
I am doing good now, but sometimes, it just takes time to heal.