Video summary

I wish we'd kept driving

Main summary

Key takeaways

Lifestyle

Adam’s Character

The speaker describes Adam as:

  • Selfless, intelligent, and funny
  • Always willing to help others
  • A role model and “the best example” of the kind of person they wanted to be

Relationship & Shared Adventures

They share that their relationship was full of adventure, including:

  • Frequent road trips to random cities just to see specific places (for example, a post office)

Timeline / Travel Highlight

  • Adam and the speaker planned to start classes together at UCF.
  • Eight days before classes, they drove from Alabama to Arkansas for a last-minute road trip.
  • Along the way, they stopped at Cheaha State Park (Alabama) to look for a waterfall.

Cheaha State Park Encounter & Car-Jumping Attempt

  • They turned down a desolate road looking for the waterfall.
  • They encountered a woman roadside who asked for jumper cables.
  • Adam insisted they had jumper cables, and the woman walked them to a campsite.
  • They found a purple Scion with the hood up.
  • Adam attempted to get it running, but the jumper cables didn’t work.

Robbery at Gunpoint (Key Events)

  • The woman later demanded they:
    • put their hands up
    • turn around
    • walk into the woods
    • surrender items (phones, keys, wallets)
  • She questioned the phone password while holding a gun.
  • Adam offered reassurance and told the speaker the woman could take the car and belongings, including computers.
  • The situation escalated:
    • Adam pulled out his gun and ordered her to get down
    • Shots were exchanged
  • Adam was shot in the lower right stomach area and fell.
  • The woman claimed they “were just hungry” and “needed food.”
  • The speaker called 911 and reported that Adam had been shot.
  • The shooter attempted to run into the woods; another person (“Krystal”) was called out but stayed about 20 feet away.

Aftermath / Emergency Response

  • The speaker followed CPR instructions from the 911 operator, manually inflating Adam’s lungs.
  • Paramedics arrived about 30 minutes later.
  • The speaker was told there was nothing they could do—Adam had already died.

Healing Message & Advice to Others

  • The hardest part is that the speaker is young and must live the rest of their life without Adam.
  • They emphasize that no outcome can fully bring justice or undo the loss.

  • For anyone dealing with grief or feeling hopeless, they advise:

    • Choose happiness
    • Recognize that happiness isn’t something you reach—it’s something you build and create
    • Focus on your own healing, because you can’t support others if you aren’t there for yourself

Notable Locations / Products / Speakers

  • Cheaha State Park (Alabama) — waterfall search; roadside encounter
  • Alabama and Arkansas road trip
  • UCF (University of Central Florida)
  • Purple Scion — vehicle involved in the jumper cable attempt
  • Adam — the speaker’s partner
  • 911 operator — provided CPR instructions to the speaker

Original video