When I was about eleven or twelve I went bike riding with my little cousin, I think she was about six. We were home alone at her house and since I'd never worn a helmet in my life I didn't think I shouild start now. I can't remember if she wanted to wear hers and I said don't bother, or if she just saw me not wearing mine and decided to follow suit.
Anyway, we decided to go down this really, really steep hill (and I saw it years later, it wasn't just steep because I was young) from the top to the bottom. I made it just fine but her wheels started wobbling and she fell off, and it really was horrific, she looked like a motorbike rider tumbling after a high speed crash, she just kept rolling and bouncing down this massive hill for about 60 feet.
When she got up the skin on one side of her face was almost torn away, her face was like minced meat, it was horrific. She ran home and I chased after her, it was terrible. I can't remember what happened when we got home but her parents got her cleaned up and she had to wear a bandage for a while.
The next day we all going to a theme park but she stayed home because she was too embarassed about her face.
It's the stupidest thing I've ever done because I didn't insist on her wearing a helmet - she was a six year old girl and we went down a really steep hill. I've felt guilty about that for the past ten years. And this is actually the first time I've ever told this story, that happened ten years ago and I've finally got that off my chest. I don't feel any better though
