Riptide

Prologue

Life can be cruel. One moment I was sitting in the passenger seat of my mom's car, singing along to whatever song was playing on the radio. I had glanced down at my phone just in time to see the screen light up with a charming text from my boyfriend of two years. That next week was my high school's prom, and Tyler wanted to make sure that his tie matched my dress. I had some of the greatest friends in the world and my future was looking bright. In a few short weeks, I would be graduated. I planned on attending a local university – the same university that my mom had taught art history at.

But then something in that moment changed. A reckless driver had sped through the intersection and crashed into the driver's side door, causing my mom's vehicle to spin into oncoming traffic. The sound of metal upon metal had drowned out the strum of whatever 80's hit was being played through the car's speakers. My phone had slid out of my hand and onto the floorboard by my sandal-clad feet. During the chaos, I thought of Tyler. I thought of my prom dress and his matching tie. I worried about whether or not I would live to walk across the stage at my graduation. I had been so preoccupied with my own concerns that I hadn't thought about my mom until the large jolt of another vehicle crashing into ours snapped my head in her direction. A piercing scream had filled my ears. It took me several seconds to realize that it had been mine.

I attended my senior prom. Several of us had gathered at my friend, Emily's, to take pictures on her dock. I stood there in my long, peach dress. Tyler stood beside me in his matching tie. Neither of us genuinely smiled. When I walked at my graduation, my eyes didn't leave the empty seat next to my dad and stepmom. I ignored all of the somber glances casted my way and didn't dare to look at anyone. If I had, I wouldn't have seen anything besides her lifeless eyes staring back into mine.

Yeah, life can be quite cruel.