I'm sitting in my pajamas, listening to the running water upstairs. I'm hungry for a grilled cheese sandwich and Doritos, and I'm really excited for the Peace Out! concert that's going to be next weekend. I'm ready to get out of my house to go hang out with my friends and I really want to go to Target right now.
I'm also scared for my life right now.
It's Saturday and it's 1:42 PM. I'm under a tornado warning.
Last night, a tornado ripped through south Atlanta and destroyed the CNN center and the Phillip's Arena. To you, it may not be that big of a deal, considering you could live in Canada or some distant state and not even know what the Phillip's Arena is.
I live less than an hour away from the arena.
Only 20 minutes ago, my friend sent me a message that only said four words: "We're under a tornado warning." I checked the weather, and we are.
Right now I'm looking at weather.com. Sure enough, I'm under tornado warning, with a severe thunderstorm 12 miles northeast of Lake Lanier Islands moving at 45 miles per hour.
Lake Lanier is where I spend my summers.
Lake Lanier Islands is one of the best water parks in north Georgia.
I live less than 30 minutes away from Lake Lanier.
Since we've been under this warning, I've been thinking a lot about the last month of my life. I've thought about all the times I've messed up somewhere and the things that I wish I could take back.
I've failed quite a few tests, I've told my parents I hated them, I've told my mom that my friends don't care about me and I got grounded for almost two weeks.
All those things that I've done, I wish I could take back and start those days over, but I know it isn't possible.
Last night I spent the night at my friend's house. When I left mine to head to hers, it was 9:30 and pouring down rain. I got in a fight with my dad along the way over something completely stupid, but I didn't think much about it. I hung out with Katelynn and watched videos on YouTube for a while and watched a movie.
When we woke up this morning, she asked me if I heard the rain and thunder. When I got home, my sister asked me if I knew that the Phillip's Arena was destroyed.
I didn't know about either of them.
I thought about it this morning when I was cleaning my room and I know that last night could have very well been my last night ever.
I know that this could be my last day ever.
I know that life is short, but I didn't know exactly how short.
Now that I do, I know more about myself and what I should do from now on.
Instead of holding something in, I should tell people what I'm feeling.
Instead of regretting a situation for weeks on end, I should get over it, because I can't change it now.
Instead of yelling at my parents and telling them that I hate them, I should actually tell them I love them and thank them for being there and giving me necessities for life.
There's part of me telling me that I should have done a lot more than I did last night. I should have told people how I really feel and I shouldn't have held anything back. I should have spent the night at my house with my family.
But the other part is screaming at me louder than the other saying, "You're fine; you're fine." The voice sounds a lot like my mother, who, ironically, is yelling the same thing at my brother who is about to burst into tears.
I know it sounds like I'm overreacting, but I'm really not.
I know it sounds like I'm one of those people who, at any chance of death, reviews her entire life, but I'm not.
This is the first time I've ever regretted doing or not doing anything.
It's getting brighter outside and there's 9 minutes left of the warning.
I feel better now.
- Kaila
