The last letter

The car is slipping from side to side on the gravel road, he loses control and it is as if time slowed down as we crash and roll, three times to be exact. I look at my hands, there's blood everywhere. “Carl!!!” I jolted awake, my clothes soaked in sweat. My Alarm reads 3 a.m, might as well start packing for our drive up to Texas for the summer. “ Emma are you packed, we leave in 5 minutes. I touch the photo hanging on my mirror and whisper: “I'm sorry.” I grab my bags and go downstairs, my father has already packed everything and the car is in front. Every summer the whole family goes down to Texas to visit my grandmother. It feels different there since my grandfather passed and I think she gets lonely in that big house. Summers are the only time we get to spend time with the family, even in our house, my mother is working all the time and my dad is in the military so he goes away a lot too, I think because of that I relate to her a lot. It was always he's dream to join the military, just like dad, I try to force my thoughts somewhere else, so I take out a book and start reading, I have always liked romance novels and like to dream that my life could also be like that, but with parents like mine, the odds are against me. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever find somebody who will be good enough for them. The drive up to Texas is about 5 hours and 30 minutes, with enough bathroom breaks and snacks and my book it doesn't really feel that far and when I looked up, we were entering Houston. By the time we drive up to the big house the whole family is already there, I dread the hello kisses and hugs, but I can't wait to see my cousins and my Nanna, she was always my favourite and I hers. We get out of the car, Jessica is the first to come greet me. My mums brother and his wife comes to greet as well, my mums sister is feeding the baby and my little cousins run up to us to give us hugs. Alex is away for spring break with all his college friends so it's just me, Jessica, a six year old called Daniel, a three year old called Sarah and the baby, Elizabeth. I have never knows my father's side of the family, and when ever I ask about it, he just says they aren't close. "shhhh" the baby keeps crying and my mom takes her from my aunt. My aunt comes to hug us "She hasn't stop crying since we got here, I don't know what to do anymore." My mom swaddles the baby and feeds her her bottle, finally she accepts the bottle and stop crying. "You just missed your auntie didn't you." My aunt sighs "you have just been a pain in the ass haven't you?" My mom looks up to her sister "She's just a baby what does she know about being a pain in the ass?" My mom puts her in her little chair and she continues to sleep. "Emma" Jessica comes running up to me. "So that new film girls just want to have fun is showing tonight, you want to go?" "Sure but who will take us with your brother being on spring break?" "I will" my uncle says "Yeah I kind of already asked my dad" she laughs "Okay let me just go unpack" I walk upstairs with my suitcase, it feels like I brought the whole house with me for a three week vacation. I open the door to my familiar room and start to unpack. I take out my blue dress and blue matching shoes, “what do you think?” Jessica's eyes light up and she smiles “ I am totally digging that dress! Can I please do your hair and make up?” I can't say no to those puppy eyes she's giving me, she is 5 months older than me, but she likes to act like she's 5 years older. “Yes, you may.” I start laughing and she joins in as she walks out the room. I sit down on the chair infront of the mirror as she enters the room with a big pink make up bag. She starts by tying my hair, then she takes out foundation and starts to cover my face with it, she puts on light eyeshadow to make my blue eyes "pop" as she calls it, she puts on a little bit of blush, eyeliner, and mascara and ends with lipstick. I have never been one to follow the trends and she has done a fantastic job making sure I don't look like the other girls, Jessica on the other hand, she is onboard with the trends she puts ons her make up and clothes and it almost looks like we are going to the disco instead of the movies. I take one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs. “Mom we are going to the mall, after we are going to watch a movie, then we are going to get ice cream, and yes we will be home by 10;30 and no later. My mom gives me a smile for knowing the curfew "alright now, ya'll be safe okay?" My mom gives us both a hug We get in to Jessica's father's truck and we drive into town. Her father drops us off at the mall and drives away. We walk into the mall and immediately go to the first clothing store we see, we try on different outfits and pose in the mirror, it felt like we were in one of those films. “ice cream!” jess yells as we walk past an icecream parlour “yes Ice cream please” I start to laugh. It was really hot for this time of day. "Nobody actually has an Idea how hard it is to be a girl." "Yeah I mean except other girls" "Yeah except them, but I mean boys, men whatever, they have no clue" she empathize no clue and shows no with her hand. I shake my head at her "which Icecream do you want?" She is so indecisive I order a large chocolate sundae and she takes a bananna sundae. We take a seat and start to eat "Hmmmm" she moans. "This is so good" I join in. “ hey" she swallows her icecream "don't look, but there's totally a guy checking you out over there.” Jess takes a lick off her spoon staring at the guy. “You know I don't care about that stuff now right?” “ He is really cute” “ stop staring!" "Why? he is cute!" "Yeah but I don't want him coming over..." before I can finish my sentence I hear a voice from behind my “Hello ladies” I turn around to see a boy, maybe a little bit older than us, stand in front of us, he is cute, but I'm not going to let him know that is what I think. “hey there” Jessica puts takes another lick of her spoon trying to act flirty but she just looks stupid. I look up to him, he has the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen, “hello, can we help you?” I ask trying to act like I am not interested. “I just came over to, uh" -he chuckles- "this is gonna sound silly but I came over to ask your name and if you would maybe go on a date with me?” I try not to smile, I am used to the attention, but I have never before actually wanted to go on a date with anybody. “her name is Emma, and yes she would love to go on a date with you” I shoot Jessica a look to stop talking, she knows how my parents are, they would never allow it. "We were actually going to see a film in a little if you would want to join?" I look at Jessica again with frustration, “I see you have friends? Maybe one of them would like to go with Jessica here?” I give her a smile and she just looks at me stunned. “ Yeah, I'm sure Ben would love it” he looks back to a table full of boys. “great well we will just finish up here and then we can go." Jessica gives him a smile. "This is exactly what I was trying to avoid, why did you ask him to join us for a movie?" "Because he's cute and you need somebody."