Dear Egypt’s General Road Authorities,
You killed my best friend. Her death will forever be on your hands.
In fact, you killed nearly 11,000 people in 2010 and the numbers have not been declining since then. I did not have the heart to look up the number of injuries because I am sure it will exceed all my expectations.
Of course there are people who text while driving, people who drive at insanely dangerous speeds and people who drive drunk or high. I still blame you for their deaths.
Wonder why? Because it is YOUR JOB to deny those people the right to drive and to launch strong campaigns to raise awareness and it is their right to have an ambulance reach the accident’s location in under a few minutes and receive proper help.
On the 25th of February, 2010 my best friend was driving home from university – less than a 10 minute drive. Unfortunately, it was hailing and raining like Egypt has never witnessed before and the road were slippery BECAUSE THERE ISN’T A PROPER DRAINAGE SYSTEM INSTALLED!
A system that would save hundreds of lives and spare their families and loved ones a kind of heartache I cannot put into words.
She crashed her car into a lamppost and stayed in the car for four hours before an ambulance arrived. Of course, the damage had been done, the head trauma was severe and blood supply to the brain was close to none, letting her slip into a coma for months.
The journey of recovery was painful and heart-wrenching – not just on her but on everyone around her. We knew she was never going to be the same again, but had faith that a miracle could happen. I blamed you every day for 889 days to be exact, until she passed away in her sleep on the 1st of August, 2012.
I will never forget how I felt that day. If someone had gathered all the heartache in the world and shoved it into my heart, it still wouldn’t suffice to describe the way my heart shattered over her loss. And I am only the best friend.
I can’t imagine how her family must feel like, how her mother must think of a different scenario if only a drainage system was installed or if the ambulance had arrived in time. How her sister fights to find solace in the little things. How her nephews will never see her. Or how she’ll never turn 21, meet the love of her life and wear a white dress.
All the things that could have happened.
Dear Egypt’s General Road Authorities,
My heart clenches at the sound of an ambulance stuck in traffic. I pray for strangers now more than I pray for my loved ones because I cannot imagine the heartache I went through inflicted on someone else. I pray for miracles.
I will always wonder why you cannot do your job right. I will always wonder why there have to be obstructions on the road without clear signs and why they can stay there for years. Why drains are left open and why parts of some bridges are missing. I will always think about the fact that people who work for you sleep peacefully at night while victims’ families spend their nights crying, mourning, wondering and praying.
The blame is on you.
Dear Egypt’s General Road Authorities,
I must thank you, though. You have put me through enough misery for one lifetime. You taught me what it feels like to be constantly angry and at peace with it. I stopped driving. I cannot hold a steering wheel without breaking down or getting a fit.
I know I will not start a family in this country because I cannot bear another road kill and I gave up on any change happening. Thank you for unleashing the bitter side of me.
Dear Egypt’s General Road Authorities,
I had plans with my best friend on February 27th 2010. We were supposed to have breakfast in Zamalek and spend some time together. You owe me a fine February 27th 2010. You owe me the life of my cornerstone and companion. You owe me the person who was excited as I was to turn 21 and travel the world.
You owe me a best friend whom I wanted next to me on my graduation day, on my wedding day and I wanted to have Saturday brunches with when we’re 50 and have no cares in the world. You owe me.
Dear Egypt’s General Road Authorities,
The lamppost she crashed into is still in its place. It’s been more than four years. I am just saying, no need to prove my point anymore.
This is in the loving memory of Julie Farouk – a loving daughter and an irreplaceable best friend, who would have been a best-selling writer and a mother to 10 Griffon dogs.
This is in memory of all those who lost their lives on the road and to honor their families and loved ones – your fight and strength are impeccable.
WE SAID THIS: This is not the first or the last message we’ll be sending to Egypt’s Road Authorities. Don’t miss “An Open Letter to Egyptian Road Authorities“
