I don't make this stuff up...

Preface: The following events are true, with no exaggerations or embellishment. Also, please don’t freak out. I really am ok.

Today I was hit by a bus. I had been out and about all day and was finally on my way home at about 7:30. I was less than half a mile from my house, crossing the last big intersection before my house. (walking, not on my bike) I happened to be crossing at the same time as a mother with her teenage daughter. We crossed to middle and were waiting for a car to turn left. Next thing I know, I feel a pain in my left side and my head hitting the concrete.

It wasn’t like one of those falls where it seems like it takes forever and you have all kinds of thoughts in that short moment…I didn’t see it coming so I had no time to prepare or think about anything. After it passed, I just remember thinking…I have to get up fast or something else might hit me. My next thoughts were, “Crap. My computer is in my backpack," "I really could have died," and "I think I'm ok," but I'm not sure in which order.

The mother and daughter helped me up and made sure there was no visible damage. I think they were shaken up too as they were standing right next to me and were almost hit as well. The bus driver pulled over and came running over to see if I was ok. He was apologizing profusely saying that he had swerved left (out of his lane) to avoid a taxi on his right (also probably not driving in his lane), but instead hit me.

He asked if I needed to go to the hospital to be checked out or if I wanted his contact info and bus number. I mean, it hurt, but I was able to stand to my feet, nothing was bleeding, and nothing felt overly damaged. My hat was a few feet away, the strap of my backpack was broken, and I was just shaken up more than anything. In that moment, I just wanted to get out of the middle of the street and the thought of the Chinese hospital was a little scarier than the thought of something being hurt. So I told him I was fine and continued on my way home.

The mother and daughter had crossed the road, but waited for me. The mom was so kind and told me that she would take me to the hospital. I said nothing was hurt and that i was going to be ok. She said, "At least let me take you to the pharmacy to get some medicine, because you may hurt tomorrow." I agree with her here. I’m pretty sure my entire left side will hurt like hell tomorrow, as it’s already a little sore today. I was, after all, HIT BY A BUS! I thanked her for her kindness but said that I had medicine at home. We walked a little way together just chatting and making small talk as if it were normal and we weren't strangers. She and the daughter turned at the next street and I continued home. I stopped for a moment to collect myself and call an American friend to relay my near death experience.

I’m now glad to be safely home. A big THANK YOU to whoever was praying for my safety today. In Him we live and move and have our being…