I was a typical six year old with all my toy trains and cars. I had friends and we would always play game and have fun. Until this terrible race that effects me to this day.

My aunt was trying to be healthier back in 2007 and she tried walking at least four times a week. It was a treat to go on a walk with her because that meant we could play at the park. Me and my friend ,Tucker, had reached the park and decided to race. The first race went as a race should have. He was amazed that I had won and wanted a rematch so, I accepted knowing I could beat Tucker again. We got ready like we were olympians and my aunt yelled go! It was as if I was going one hundred miles an hour and then I felt a hand shove me down.

Tucker had pushed me and I was falling onto to hard pavement where wood chips were scattered everywhere. My frail little knees plummeted towards the ground where my knees slid along with my face. Pain filled my body as wood chips punctured my skin and while the pavement scraped off some skin too. The pain was so bad I couldn’t even walk.

My aunt had rushed over to me, picked me up and started speed walking with Tucker back to her house. They immediately poured warm water and hydrogen peroxide all over my cuts. They rushed me to the hospital and I had small cuts and bruises all over but, my knees were full of wood chips and tiny splinters. They knocked me out for three and a half hours as they patched me up and removed the wood from my knees.

After the incident I was in a wheelchair for two weeks as my wounds healed. I was furious with Tucker. I would never talk to him again I thought. That thought was right too. He never even tried to apologize. I still have problems with knees today and my nose constantly peels. I know after ten years people would think I wouldn’t be upset with Tucker anymore. Well I still am, not because he pushed me down but, because he never made an effort to apologize.

In the end I learned to always apologize in the moment because it may not matter in the moment but, in the end it may allow that person to see you were truly sorry.