AceShowbiz - Brandy Norwood reflects deeply on a tragic car accident that occurred in 2006, which resulted in the death of a 38-year-old woman named Awatef Aboudihaj, in her recently published memoir, Phases.

In the memoir, released on Tuesday, March 31, Brandy Norwood recounts the incident as a moment that shattered her everyday routine. She describes driving on the familiar 405 freeway, a route she had traveled countless times before, unaware that her life was about to change forever on a cold December morning.

She writes, “It was just a drive, another day traveling the pale concrete veins of the 405. How many times had I coasted along this mundane stretch of freeway?” But the calm was abruptly broken, and Brandy Norwood found herself in the middle of a devastating crash. She explains that right before the collision, her mind was clear and she was focused, yet she did not anticipate the danger ahead.

The accident involved a chain reaction where a car struck the one in front, and Brandy Norwood could not react in time. She describes her memory of the crash as fragmented, dividing her life into “before and after” the event.

Immediately after the collision, Brandy Norwood recalls letting out a “paralyzing scream” that was quickly replaced by an overwhelming silence. Though she initially blamed herself, a bystander informed her that she was not at fault. She also witnessed emergency responders pulling the victim, Aboudihaj, from one of the vehicles involved.

Brandy Norwood shares the pain of knowing that Aboudihaj was rushed to the hospital but tragically passed away the following day. This loss left her grappling with profound grief and guilt. In her words, “Guilt gripped my throat, squeezed harder and harder until breathing became a conscious effort.” She acknowledges the accident was a tragic mix of circumstance and human error, yet it resulted in a woman’s death while she survived.

The aftermath of the accident caused Brandy Norwood to withdraw from the world. She felt unworthy of joy or happiness, haunted by the fact that Aboudihaj would never again experience life’s simple pleasures, such as feeling sunshine or embracing her children. Brandy Norwood questioned her right to smile, sing, or simply exist in a world that the victim no longer could.

Following the incident, the victim’s family filed a $50 million lawsuit against Brandy Norwood. The case was ultimately settled out of court. An investigation cleared her of negligence, and no charges were filed. Despite this, the emotional burden hardened within her, leaving a permanent mark on her soul.

For a long time, Brandy Norwood struggled to forgive herself. However, after several therapy sessions, she was able to soften her grief enough to allow herself some grace. She explains that while the pain never fully disappeared, it became manageable and made space within her to heal.