Quick note: I'm dedicating this first part to @RomaBucky! Thank you for working with me! Go read the first ch. of her latest work, Just Us!! Great job so far!! :)
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Prologue
"I can't wait to graduate next year! Collage is going to be a blast," Ben said, beside me in the back seat of the car. School just ended for us, so my parents were taking us out. They adored Ben and would often invite him over for dinner. My dad says he is an outstanding young man. My mom thinks he's the cutest thing there ever was, just after my siblings and me, of course. He's so kind. We've been together since I was in sixth grade. I love him with all of my heart. However, tonight we ended our relationship. We both felt like we grew apart and were more friends than anything else. Of course, he will always be my best friend.
"Me, too! It will be so fun to go to parties and meet boys," I winked.
We both laughed when my mom shot a glare back at me and I said, "I'm only joking. You know I'm not like that!"
"Besides, you know I will be checking up on her ALL OF THE TIME!"
Mom laughed and turned back around. Dad is always a quiet driver unless he needs to say something, so it doesn't surprise me that he made no comment.
They both understood the reason behind Ben and I breaking up and agreed that it's for the best.
My mom squealed from the passenger seat and the car slid off the road. For a moment, all I hear is the sound of glass and wind as the car flipped once and hurtled through the air. The driver's side and front of the car smashed into two trees. My eardrums screamed as metal crunched and clash shattered. My body flew forward but my lap belt saved me from being ejected. My hips and upper thighs burned from the force of the impact. My vision blurred. I tried to make sense of what had happened, but I couldn't. Everything was perfect and then it wasn't. I let out a whimper. I looked around me in a panic. My dad was limp in his seat. I couldn't tell if he was breathing. My mom, Oh God, my mom wasn't in her seat! The windshield had a gaping hole. Did she fly out? She was wearing her seatbelt! I need to find her! I moved my hand to unbuckle and brushed against Ben's leg. Oh, God! Ben! I grabbed his hand and squeezed. He didn't squeeze back. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, screaming, "Ben! Ben, wake up! Please, wake up! I need you!"
I was grabbed by someone unknown and pulled from the car. I thrashed and kicked, to no avail.
"Calm down, sweety! We've got you," came a woman's gentle voice.
"No," I screamed. "MY family! Save them," I pleaded. The hands that held me let me go and I fell to the ground sobbing.
The woman knelt down and patted my back.
"My mom. She's not in the car," I sobbed.
The lady said," John, there's another woman. She says she isn't in the car."
Looking down at me, she said, "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Bella."
"Is that short for Isabell," she asked.
"Isa'Bella," I sniffed. "After my grandma."
"What a pretty name!"
"Thank you."
"My name is Katherine. My husband is John."
"What happened," I asked, still confused.
Katherine looked sad for a moment. "A truck crossed the center line and almost hit you. I assume whoever is driving your car tried to get out of the way but went too far."
A tear rolled down my cheek and she wiped it away.
"The police are on their way. They should be here any moment," John said. His expression was grave. He knelt down and asked, "Are you hurt?"
"I think I'm okay." I didn't feel anything except numb and tired.
He grabbed my hand and helped me sit up. Pain shot through me but I ignored it. Katherine opened a bottle of water and handed it to me. "Here is some water, if you want it."
I took it from her hand and thanked her. I looked back toward the car and let out a sob. It was a tangled mess. Metal and glass littered the ground around it. The driver's side was completely caved in, as was the front.
"Did you find my mama," I asked, praying that she was okay.
"I didn't. I'm sure the police will."
And what about my dad and Ben?"
John's head dropped and a tear rolled down his nose. "I'm so sorry. They didn't make it."
I couldn't hear anything except the blood rushing through my head. My heart raced and my vision went black.
When I awoke, my whole body hurt. I was on a hard bed. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a breath. Clean, sterile, alcohol, and another smell I can't describe, filled my senses. I opened my eyes when a hand touched mine. I looked to my left and saw Katherine. To my right, Annie, Ben's mom, Stood watching me, tears rolling down her face.
"So, it's really," I asked no one in particular.
Annie stepped closer and grasped my hand like I was her lifeline.
"Oh, Bella," was all she could say.
Fresh tears streamed down both of our cheeks. She leaned down and kissed my cheek. When she raised up, her eyes were bloodshot and heavy with pain. She walked around my bed and out the door.
"Did they find my momma," I asked.
John walked to my right side, picked up my hand and said, "Yes. It wasn't good. She has many broken bones and very severe trauma."
"Did anyone grab my purse? I need to call my brother."
"Here," Katherine said, handing me my things.
"Thank you!"
I dialed Sebastion's number and waited. After the first ring, he answered.
"Hello?"
"Seb," I sobbed.
"Bee, why are you crying?" I could tell by the heavy breathing on his end that he was beginning to panic.
"Seb, I need you to come down to the hospital."
"What? Why?" More panic.
"Just get Jessi and be careful."
"All I need was for him to crash and die, too," I thought,
He hung up without another word. I handed Katherine he phone and heaved. My stomach lurched and I knew what was fixing to happen. My mouth watered and I said, "I'm gonna throw up!"
Quickly, John handed me a pail and I let everything out. Katherine, being the Angel she was, Pulled my dark locks back. She wrapped a tie around them and rubbed my back.
"Now, now. Just let it all out." Her words soothed me a little and I calmed down.
I sat back, resting the pail on my lap. John took it and Katherine rubbed my arm. When John came back, he held a damp rag out to her. She took it and whipped my forehead.
I laid my head back and closed my eyes.
I must have dozed because the next thing I heard was a nurse saying, " She's been out for the last thirty minutes."
I opened my eyes and when I saw him and Jessi, I began to cry. They rushed to my side.
"Bee, what happened," Sebastion asked.
I looked at Jessi and said, "Hand her here."
He did and I pulled him to my chest. "I love you, baby girl."
She smacked her tiny lips together and continued sleeping. That's what two-month-olds do, sleep all of the time.
I told Sebastion to sit down. When he was seated, I told him what happened.
"We don't know anything about mom, yet."
He put his face in his hands but gave no other reaction. Sebastion is 23 and lives at home on the weekends. Other than that, he has his own life. Dad forced him into college but mom refused to let him fully move out. He hated being at home, especially with the new baby. He gave into watching Jessamine because he never could tell mom no. It's not that he hated the baby, it's just that he didn't like the crying or responsibilities that came with her. I didn't mind. I enjoy it.
A knock sounded at the door and a female doctor entered. She asked if we were Brigit's children and we said yes.
"I regret to inform you that your mother didn't make it. We did everything possible to save her but her injuries were too extensive." The doctor's face was sad.
My world shattered all over again but instead of crying, I just sat there. I couldn't cry anymore.
Sebastion, on the other hand, let out a sob. I couldn't move. I had no will left in me. Three of the most important people in my life died today.
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Author's Note
I really hope you all enjoyed this! I did my best with the details. This was definitely hard to write. I caught myself tearing up at times. I have been through loss myself. It's hard, so that is why I'm chosing to write this.
If anyone would like to add anything, I will gladly accept your feedback! Please, no rude comments!
Thank you all for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, please vote! :)