The difference a second can make

I was in a bad car accident a month ago.

I had 2 thoughts, seemed like several minutes apart, but in retrospect probably no more than a few seconds.

The first, as a car suddenly appeared in my lane, headed toward me "Oh, shit, I am going to hit her."

The second, after we hit, as I tried to catch my breath (airbags deployed, my seat either moved forward or the front of the car collapsed or both) "I can't breathe. I can't breathe, I am going to die." I watched the other driver jump out of her car, run to the other side screaming "my baby" and she opened the door to get her child out of the car.

I did catch my breath. I somehow opened my door and swung my legs out, and sat, my head in my hands, trying to catch my breath.

If I had been a little faster, she would have hit the driver's side that hard.