I'm at school when I get the news. I remember my principle coming into my class room and walking straight towards my desk, by the look on his face I could tell something has happened. He slowly leans towards me and whispers in my ear. “Bree you need to come with me" I look back at him and feel my body slowly going numb. My heart begins beat fast and I can't breathe. Walking down the hall to his office was a blur; I just remember the worst thoughts running through my head. Little did I know that today my thoughts would come true and I'd be an orphan. Entering Mr. Cannins office I take a seat in an oversized lounge chair. He also takes a seat behind his mahogany desk. Mr. Cannins sighs deeply and there’s a long pause before he begins. “Bree I don’t know how to tell you this, but your parents have passed away.” I sat there in shock; I felt my heart hit the pit of my stomach. Mr. Cannins comes over and hugs me; it was awkward because I could tell he didn’t know what to do. I speak up and say “how? How did they die?” He doesn’t respond right away almost like he’s not sure to give me full details. “Your parents were killed in a car accident.” I take in what he is saying and I’m confused, my parents went to work this morning in separate cars.

Taking all my will power I stand up and walk straight out of his office no tears, no hysteria…yet anyways. Once I’m sure he can no longer see me I bolt for the bathroom, tears are now streaming out of my eyes. I fling open the door and run for the last stall. There are other girls in there adjusting their makeup and hair, but they see me and leave. I lock the stall and slowly sink down against the doors smooth surface until my butt hits the floor and I go into hysteria. I put my head between my knees and cry, collecting my brown hair in my fist and pulling. “Screaming out why God!” “What have I done that’s so bad you take my parents?” My crying slowly turns into that hiccup and cry thing. I don’t even bother to wipe the smeared mascara from my eyes or even fix my hair. I leave the bathroom, get my bag from my locker and walk right out of school.

Just to add to my day the sky is dark and it’s raining. The parking lots pot holes are filling up with water and I have to smile. Not a happy smile but an “oh wow what a quince a dense. “ The ripples in the water are what are making me smile, how one rain drop can cause so many ripples. How one accident can cause my life to become a non-ending ripple? My hair and clothes are now soaked but I love it. It makes me feel cold and numb which is better than crying and feeling pain. I get into my Volvo and plug my iPod into the port. Screw the happy music; I go straight for my Ed Sheeran, One Republic, and Imagine Dragons. I turn the knob for the volume as far as it can go. I peel out of the parking lot, missing Carly Bitmens car by a few inches. Ha I should have just hit it, what do I have to lose now. I forget all about the speed bumps and hit them full force. “Crap!” I say as my forehead hits my steering wheel. I continue to speed out of the parking lot until I hit the road.

The tears start up again; they come full fledge with no warning. They blind my sight and fill my mouth with the taste of salt. People flip me the bird and honk at me because I’m swerving in and out of traffic. I wipe my eyes with the sweaters sleeve and try and gain some control. I turn off onto the street that leads to my house. My gate is closed just like I left it this morning. I type in the code and they gate swings open with a groan. I’m not gonna lie I’m sort of hoping that I’ll walk through that door and my parents will be there with a Coffee mug in hand or newspaper, phone in the other. I pause and stare at my house; it’s three stories tall and has white columns. My parents went for the old-ish plantation home look. Then it hits me like a ton of bricks, where will I go? I’m only 16 so legally I can’t live on my own. I rest my hand on the front doors handle and breathe in and slowly let it out. My door opens with a click and I step in. My calmness is lost and I go spaztic I start screaming “MOM, DAD” multiple times running through the house like a little kid trying to find his friends in the game Hide and Seek. I run up the stairs taking two at a time. I turn to the right and fling open my parents room door and scream again. No answer. I run back down the stairs, screaming for my parents until my voice goes hoarse. Defeated I give up.


This is it, my parents are dead, gone and are never coming back. I stumble my way back up the stairs, using the wall as my guide and my stability. My room is my security. Lying down on my bed I let the blankets and pillows engulf me. I roll onto my side and bring my knees up to my chin. I start to think “How?” “How did my parents both be killed in a car accident when they left in separate cars?” None of this makes sense. The next thing I know my closet door is opening and a guy jumps on top of me, piercing my arm with a needle full of liquid. I scream, but noise comes out. My vision starts to blacken and I’m gone.