[ WP ] Your daughter is the first person killed by a driverless car . CCTV footage showed the offending vehicle swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle that ignored a red traffic light .


 Johnny looks at me with a brave face and sad green eyes. He hugs me tightly and it takes all my strength not to cry. I shake my head wondering how God could do something so horrible to a person so sweet. I grab Johnny ’ s hand and we head out to the living room. The kids are all spread out on the couches silently trying to hide their pain. Johnny walks over to our chatterbox, Danny who was staring off into space quietly. I wander to the fire place and look at all of the kid ’ s pictures; they all looked so happy. Johnny pats Danny ’ s leg and sits down next to him. A news report comes on about the accident and pictures flash of Darlene ’ s mangled car. All the children look up attentively and Johnny switches the channel. 
 
 “ You guys can ’ t be watching this stuff all day. It ’ s too horrible, ” Johnny says gruffly. 
 
 Ophelia looks at Johnny and then at me. In her adorably little voice she asks, “ Was Darlene scared when she died? ” 
 
 Johnny and I look at each other unsure how to respond. The scene of the accident was horrific and the Jaws of Life had been used to search for body parts. It was definitely going to be a closed casket ceremony. 
 
 Johnny takes a deep breath and says, “ No baby. Right before the crash, her guardian angel came and scooped her up. Her body is very hurt and so her soul has to stay up in heaven from now on. ” 
 
 I smile at Johnny; even in times of grief, he managed to maintain composure. 
 
 “ Are you kids hungry? I can make spaghetti or something? ” I ask looking at my baby girls. 
 
 Erin puts her hands over her eyes and says, “ Darlene loves spaghetti. ” 
 
 I hug Erin tightly and tell her everything will be okay. Johnny gets up and goes in front of the fire place, “ Family meeting time! Erin honey sit down for a second, ” he says clapping his hands together. I look at his tired face and stand by his side not knowing what he plans to announce. 
 
 I look out at our beautiful children ’ s faces: Danny, Ophelia, Erin, Lucas, and the spot where Darlene sits. Johnny coughs and I hold his hand; although the kids didn ’ t notice, I could tell that he was struggling. 
 
 He clears his throat and begins to speak, “ This is an absolutely horrible situation but while it is bad, we are going to stick together and we are going to come out stronger. Let ’ s make Darlene proud. ” 
 
 I take a deep breath and nod in support. Lucas raises his hand quietly and Johnny points to him to ask his question. 
 
 Lucas asks, “ If nobody was driving, then who ’ s going to be blamed? ” 
 
 Johnny sighs and I take on the question, “ We aren ’ t looking to blame anyone Luc. It was a technology flub, hopefully this event will expose a coding mistake in the car manufacturer ’ s system and someone else ’ s life will be spared, ” I answer looking to Johnny for solidarity. 
 
 He nods in support but Danny interrupts, “ But Mom, people never listen until there ’ s a whole bunch of deaths! Darlene ’ s death isn ’ t going to change anything! ” 
 
 Johnny looks at him sternly as Ophelia begins to cry; all of us had to be careful with our words and be tactful about the subject. Danny apologizes quietly hugging Ophelia. 
 
 I clear my throat and say, “ We can either let hate consume us and become recluses of society or we can foster love. We can not and will not throw away all our technology; self-driving cars have improved accident statistics tremendously! It is safer in a world with technology but that doesn ’ t mean that we can ’ t be alert and careful. Be aware of your surroundings but you still need to have fun and laugh and smile. ” 
 
 The kids look at me sadly and Johnny hugs me again. It was going to take time but we weren ’ t going to let a technology malfunction define our lives. 

