~Prologue~ 4 years ago
2015 Words
~Prologue~ 4 years ago
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you….happy birthday dear Almira… Happy birthday to you." My parents, and siblings sang.
My brother came to me and ruffled my hair and said, “how old are you now Shorty?" I looked at him and shot a grin at him," I'm a teenager today! I'm a teenager today!"
My sister rolled her eyes, “You are just 13 not 16 or 18 Mira."
I stuck my tongue at her and she did the same them, mum and dad shouted the 'hip hip hurray!" And everyone told me happy birthdays and gave me a well-deserved hug and kiss on my cheek. Oh well and the gifts.
"Mum, dad, when are we going to the new park?" I asked excitedly. Mum and dad shared a look and dad said, “I’m sorry sweetie I and your mum have decided we won't be going out today. You are celebrating at home then, you get a party. I looked at mum and dad and frowned," I thought, you both taught us about Promises? And now, you both can't fulfill the only request I ask for on my 13th birthday. Is it too much to ask?
"We are your parents Mira. Don't question us" Mum said sternly.
I whined, “I hate it when this happens! Everyone is talking about the new park and how awesome it is and, I haven't even seen the gate. WORST BIRTHDAY EVER!"
My dad looked at me and frowned, “Go to your room child and stop ranting."
I furiously left the sitting room, went up to my room and bolted the door. Fine, call me a spoilt brat. Maybe that's what happens when you are the last child and of course a sweetheart (everyone says so). Honestly, being the last Born is a privilege.
Worst. Birthday. Ever!
How could they do this to me?! I ran to my bed and stuffed my face to my pillow and screamed.
You know, that moment when you want to let all your frustrations go but they aren't going? Well, that is the situation I'm in now. In the next 3 hours, I heard a knock on the door.
"Mira?" Austin called out
"Go away"
"Hell no. You may be happy about what I'm about to tell you" Austin said in a sing-song voice.
"What is it?"
"Get ready, we are going to the park."
I ran to my door and opened the door for him. He gave me his go to go smile and I grinned at him and ran to my wardrobe to get dressed.
I ran downstairs and hugged the living daylights out of my parents. “Thanks mum and dad."
Alison rolled her eyes at me, “You should be thanking me."
Austin snickered, “Actually, she should be thanking me."
"No me"
"No me"
"No me"
"No me"
This went on forever while, mum and dad shook their heads while Ally and Austin stuck their tongues at each other clearly forgetting the fact that they are sixteen.
As we were about to get going, Austin turned around and said, “No way am I getting out without eating that cake."
Ally rolled her eyes, “You act as if you have never tasted a cake before you glutton."
He scoffed, “Just don't talk about me like that. Have you seen this awesome bud?"
Alison sighed, “Where’s he? I can't see him. Continue eating and you will look like a balloon."
Austin sneered, “I can never. I think you should be more worried about you seeing as you don't have this sexy abs" Austin literally gestured to his abs that are more like lines in my eyes but girls drool over that.
Ally snorted, “OH please, I've seen better than that."
Austin laughed, “Who? Do you mean Jeremy?"
Ally turned red and gave a lame, “Shut up!"
Austin winked at her and Alison groaned then said, “Are we going or not?" Everyone started walking towards the door until, Austin said, “Just one bite. Please one bite…" Dad gave him a stern look and said, “Austin Michael Evans to the car now!"
Austin whined and looked at mum like a lost puppy. Being a mama's boy, mum started pleading his case until Alison said, “The head of the family said no cake until we are back so, NO CAKE!"
Dad covered his laugh with a cough seeing the glare mum threw his way and I knew mum was about to talk so, I stepped up and told everyone let's get to the car.
~In the Car~
Everything was going so well. Everyone chatted happily in the car. I giggled at Austin and Ally's banters and admired the googly faces mum and dad were sending each other. I hope that one day, I'll find a man like daddy.
I checked my phone and noticed a call from my twin cousin Alma.
"Hello!" She screamed.
"Hi!" I replied with the same enthusiasm.
"Is there still a need to tell you happy birthday though I've already done that?" She asked.
"I don't know Al… Guess what?" I perked up.
"What?!"
"I'm going to the park!!!" She squealed and I had to take my phone away from my ear.
"Finally! Do you hear we will be celebrating our birthday this weekend?" She asked.
"Yeah I kinda did lemme guess, you're inviting Mason?"
I could sense her blushing, “No I'm not"
"Yes you are"
"No I'm not"
"Yes you are"
"Okay, maybe I am but, I'm 13 now. I deserve a boyfriend" she sighs.
"Let uncle Thoris hear you" I retorted.
"Why are you trying to act like a saint? Do you think I don't know you're inviting Luke?"
"What?"
"Yes my dear twin cousin… I know all about Luke… Remember when he gave you your book and started stammering like Marinette while, the both of you were staring at each other like Brandon and Nikki from Dork diaries" She said smugly.
I turned beetroot red, “I’ll block you"
She laughed and we kept on chatting about our dreams now we are 13.
I didn't know we were in trouble until, I saw a truck move past the red light… Dad tried so hard to swerve but still collided with the truck.
"Ahhhhh!!!!"
"Daddy watch out!!!"
"Turn honey"
"Jesus!"
"Mummy!!!"
While all this shouts were going on, I heard Alma's voice from my phone, “AL? Almira?! Are you okay?! Mum, dad something's wrong with Mira!!!!"
I blacked out after that episode.
I woke up after a few minutes, groaned and looked around and heard groans. My parents said, “Kids, we love you all so much. Always be there for each other. Please take care of yourselves and Almira, don't blame yourself for this… Happy birthday love."
I started crying while Austin was finding it hard to breathe.
"No no no!!! Mum?!! Dad?!!" No matter how hard I cried or shook them, I knew that, they were gone and I looked around seeing the blood everywhere and noticed Alison's absence.
I heard the sirens and,
I BLACKED OUT. AGAIN.
**********************
"Doctor, how is she?"
"She will be fine physically, but as all know, this is a very traumatizing event. And that, for a child.
"We understand, but is there we can do to help?"
"By being here, you all are already giving her enough help. We can only hope that time will heal this wound."
"Is there anything we can do to minimize whatever she may go through?"
"You all just have to be by her side, wait and watch."
I heard the distant voices of my aunty and uncle? And someone else?
What the hell are they doing here?
They never said they'll follow us to the park… So, why the hell are they here? I thought feeling extremely confused and let down.
I tried to wake up? That's strange. Why the hell am I trying to wake up?
I heard the voices of my aunty and uncle and Alma? "She is waking up"
I noticed Alma's voice and opened my eyes and automatically squinted due to the light then I saw the white ceiling. That's strange. Since when, did parks have ceilings? Why is there something on my Hand? Is that drip? I clear my eyes and look at my aunty, uncle and cousin then the doctor aunt Madison.
I got up and tried removing the drip from my hand until, the doctor came to me immediately, "Calm down darling, you will will be fine."
I looked at her puzzled. Alma came up to me and hugged me crying in my arms. Why the hell is Alma crying on out 13the birthday? My aunty and uncle came forward and also hugged me loosely though because I noticed some bandages.
My aunty spoke up and said, “How are you Mira?"
I tried to form a sentence but no words came out of my mouth. I tried again but couldn't speak. I gestured for water and finished the whole cup and tried again to form a sentence yet, no words came out of my mouth.
My aunty, Aunt Madison and Alma started crying while, uncle had tears in his eyes. My aunty wailed, “What’s wrong with Mira doctor?"
Aunt Madison our family doctor said, “It’s not surprising that Almira has lost her sense of speech. In cases like hers, this is not new. So, nothing is wrong with her."
My aunty looked at me intently and questioned poor doctor, “if nothing is wrong with her, then, WHY CAN'T SHE SPEAK?! Did her tongue fly out?! How long will it take for her to speak again?!" Uncle Thoris held aunt Aline, trying to calm her down.
I felt really sorry for Aunt Madison. She rubbed her palms together and said, “Look here Mr. Evans...it depends. In some people, it maybe days, months or…" She gulped. Alma finally spoke up, “Years?!" the doctor nodded," it depends though don't pressure her much but, you can help her get her voice back."
I gestured for a pen and a paper and got it then, I wrote,
"Where are my parents?"
"Austin?"
"Alison?!"
"Why am I here In the hospital?"
Everyone swallowed their saliva and uncle Thoris said, “Austin is in the hospital. Austin will be under watch the doctor said he's...in...a critical condition."
I looked at him obviously confused.
"Don't you remember why you're in the hospital?" Aunt Madison said.
I wrote,
"If I knew, will I be asking?"
Aunt Aline answered, “So, you don't remember?" I shrugged and felt dizzy wondering what the hell happened.
Immediately, I saw flashes of lights… I heard the sounds, the sirens, the screams even, the cars colliding into each other. I put my hand on my ears and shut my eyes tightly Abe shook my head repeatedly feeling the hot tears on my cheeks.
I tried to hear what my aunty, uncle, aunt Madison and Alma were saying but, all I could hear were the cries and all I could see was the blood. I wanted to scream but, I couldn't.
I felt a little bit of cold water on my body then, everyone stared at my predicament and I wrote,
"My parents, are they okay?"
"Where's Ally?"
"Is Austin going to be alright?"
It seemed like everyone chickened out to tell me the truth so, uncle Thoris stepped up to the task and said, “We hope Austin will be okay. The police is looking for Alison."
Austin? Hope he's okay.
Alison? Is missing.
Hot tears poured down my face and I wrote, “Parents?"
Uncle Thoris looked at me with his eyes and I saw tears brimming over them, “Your parents Mira, they are in heaven"
My parents are dead?!
Alison is missing?!
Austin is in a critical state?! He didn't even get to taste the cake. And, everything that happened I all my fault.
With that,
I BLACKED OUT
- Writer
