I was sixteen years old and about to have one of those fateful moments that can change a person for life. It was a beautiful spring day. The birds were chirping while a soft wind was blowing and everything seemed alright with the world. Having just taken a bus to the mall, I decided to enjoy the lack of humidity and walk home.

Ever have those times where everything seems perfect? Like Goldilocks, that afternoon was just right. The Sun shining down around me like a warm blanket on a cold winter's day. I can still see the intersection in my mind’s eye. Approaching the curb, I saw a car stopped well back from the crosswalk. It didn't seem too strange to me as I'd seen other new drivers do the same.

Little did I know, this time would be very different.

Stepping out

Looking up at the light which had just turned red, an odd feeling came over me. I turned my head left and noticed a woman in the only car on the road. Then I walked off the curb...

Taking maybe one step? possibly beginning the second when everything seemed to happen in slow-motion. The vehicle began to roll towards me even though I had the light. It wasn't going fast but wasn't stopping either. Hearing the noise and turning to look again, I suddenly found myself on the hood of the car, arms outstretched as if in an act of supplication. My upper chest was on the top while my feet were being pulled under the space between the wheels.

The road was on a slight incline, so the car was coasting downhill. It was so quiet, with the only sound coming from the crunch of pebbles under the tires. At that moment, words flashed through my mind about the eyes being the window to the Soul. Completely helpless, I thought: "If she's going to run me over, I'm going to make sure she remembers it." So I did the only thing I could...

Connecting: One human being to another

Finding her eyes behind the windshield, I gave them a piercing stare. Not in anger, because there was no time for that, but more like "are you really going to do this?" Our eyes locked as I was beginning to be drawn further down the hood. She looked directly at me and then in horror, realizing what was happening, finally stepped on the brakes.

Falling backward, I landed in the cross street, then turned over and limped away from danger. Getting myself together, I saw she'd rolled her window partway down. A blonde woman, mid-thirties maybe, she had her head on the steering wheel and was crying. At some point I spoke to her:

Were you trying to run me over?

No.

Why did you do that?

I don't know.

Turns out she was having relationship problems with her husband and had just stormed off after a huge argument. Seems she lost it when seeing me at the intersection. Who knows, maybe I was wearing clothing that reminded her of him. Profusely apologizing, the lady asked for my forgiveness which I freely gave. Still shaken, the bus approached which took me the rest of the way home. Thankfully I was not wearing headphones and was able to think quickly. I truly believe if I’d not had the presence of mind to lock eyes with her the outcome might have been very different. That one precious moment of human contact broke the spell and made all the difference.

So if you're ever in a situation of apparent powerlessness, remember that saying. "The eyes are the window to the Soul." Use them. They may very well save your life...