Chapter 3
1074 Words
KARLIAH POV
It was snowing and I remember being hurled out of the car. My vision was fading away and I couldn't comprehend what was happening to me.
The paramedics placed a mask on my face. I remember them tying them to keep breathing, focusing my gaze on their voices but my heart was somewhere else.
"You need to keep breathing sweetie everything is going to be ok" one of the female paramedics said softly.
I could see the bodies of my parents being put on separate stretchers covered with a white sheets.
Tears blurred my vision.
I could feel my heart pounding frantically in my chest. A gasp of shock escaped my lips and when I woke up I was laying in a hospital bed unable to move.
The bright light hurt my eyes and everything felt like a bad dream.
When I tried to move I felt a sharp pain in my chest and froze. I placed my hand on my chest and felt something like a bandage.
My throat dry like I've been screaming on top of my lungs but I couldn't remember anything just then the door opened and a nurse walked in.
She smiled at me.
"Karliah you're finally awake, how do you feel?" She asked in a soft voice while placing the basin she was carrying on the table.
"My parents….where are they?"
She placed the cloth in the basin, squeezing it until the water was drained and she wiped my arms.
"Karliah dear, your parents didn't make it. I'm so sorry..." She said in a low voice.
I shook my head negatively but felt a lump forming in my throat.
" You're a liar."
She sighed softly.
"I know it's hard to accept but it's the truth."
Tears blurred my vision as the nurse wrapped her arms around me tightly.
"It's okay Karliah."
A painful sob escaped my lips.
"You and your brother will be taken to foster care until we find a way to contact your relatives."
I pulled back breathlessly.
" You don't understand we don't have anyone, it's just me and my brother."
The nurse looked at me sadly.
" I'm sure we'll find someone, Karliah."
I wiped my tears away.
" They're dead because of me."
" No sweetie."
" The last thing I told my parents was that I hated them just because they didn't let me go to a stupid party none of this would have happened if I hadn't sneaked out that night."
" Don't blame yourself Karliah even if you never snuck out, none of us can control death."
" Do you want something to eat?"
" No, I'm not hungry."
" Where is Dylan?"
" He's still at your neighbor's house. He doesn't know anything about your parents. Maybe you should be the one to tell him."
I nodded quietly.
" He's going to be devastated."
"Hey it's going to be okay."
The nurse got up.
"Why do I have a bandage on my chest?"
"You had surgery."
"What?"
"Your heart was about to give out and we had to do something."
"You're saying I have someone else's heart pounding in my chest?"
The nurse nodded quietly.
"Whose?"
" Your mother's."
The air left my lungs and a single tear rolled down my left cheek.
" It was dying Karliah and you needed a heart, it was the only thing we could do to save you."
" Your mother would have wanted this."
" She loves you very much."
Once the nurse left I clung to my pillow tightly it was drenched with my tears.
The next day I learned that the nurse's name was Rachel.
She opened the door to my room.
"You have a visitor."
"Who?"
She opened the door wider and Dylan stood beside her.
"Karliah!"
He ran towards me and wrapped his arms around me.
Tears streamed down his rosy pink cheeks and my own tears followed as well.
"I'm sorry Dylan..."
"Where are mom and dad?"
"They went on a long trip and they won't be coming back this time."
"Why did they leave us behind?"
"Because they want us to take care of each other Dylan and that's why we can't follow them this time."
I wiped his tears away.
" It's going to be okay Dylan and you don't have to be scared because your big sister is here and I won't allow anything bad to happen to you."
He nodded quietly.
The mere thought of being separated from my brother made me feel very afraid he was my only family now and we only had each other now.
"You'll be going to your new foster home in a few days" Rachel mutters quitely.
I stared at her.
"I don't want to be separated from my brother."
"I know Karliah and I don't plan on doing that."
I felt relieved to hear this.
" You have nothing to worry about because she's a single mother and she has two daughters around your age."
" What about our house and properties?"
" Karliah your parents' house and properties remain intact until you're eighteen years old. That's when you'll be able to claim them but for now you're still a minor."
" And that's why you and your brother will be put in a foster care home but we'll make sure that you go school so that you can complete your education."
I smiled at her.
" Thank you."
I turned to Dylan.
" Did you hear that Dee it's going to be alright? We'll have a new family soon and we'll go to a new school."
He pulled away from me.
" I don't want a new family!"
Dylan ran out of the room.
"Dylan, wait!"
Rachel ran after him.
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
This was all my fault.
A few minutes later nurse Rachel came back.
"Where is he?"
"He's in the playroom."
"Just give a few minutes to adjust Karliah. He's just a kid and this is hard for him to accept."
I nodded quietly.
" He probably hates me."
"That's where you are wrong Karliah because your brother loves you very much."
" He's just afraid of losing you."
Rachel grasped my hand gently.
" This storm will pass Karliah and I know that you're too young Rachel but you're a very strong young woman and I have a feeling that you were made for greatness."
- Writer
