Freedom To Fall

Chapter 1

        Darkness. That's all I'm able to see. I can hear distant voices which I couldn't make out. Actually, I don't even know what's going on. All I remember is a fairly large pickup truck crashing into my moms' car and then everything went black. I'm able to feel myself being lifted up off of the ground, I try to open my eyes, but everything is just so blurry. I can make out some red lights flashing and groups of people surrounding me. I wanted to ask about where I was and what was happening, but before I could open my mouth, I could feel myself going limp, darkness overcoming me..

My eyes flutter open as I came to. I let my eyes adjust to my surroundings, seeing that I'm in a bright white room with a few beeping monitors hooked up to my right arm. I furrow my eyebrows, trying to think of how I got here. Something weird was around my face, then I realized it was an oxygen tube as I touched it. The door was suddenly swung open, immediately startling me, as multiple people walked into the room. My body stiffened at the sight of the people I didn't know walk in, but then my eyes landed on the one person I missed dearly...my dad.

"Claire..." he sighed in relief and ran over to me. Immediately, my body relaxed as he embraced me in a tight hug.

"Dad..." Tears started to spill down my face as I tried to embrace him. His hand touched a certain spot on my side, causing a sharp pain to run through my neck all the way down to that certain spot. He jerked back and looked at me with worry written all over his face.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he kept repeating himself. I put my hand on top of his and gave it a light squeeze, "Dad, please stop apologizing. You didn't mean it," I leaned back into the hospital bed and gave him a small smile. He nodded absentmindedly, "I'm just glad you're okay," He lightly took ahold of my hand as his bottom lip started to quiver with a single tear rolling down his tired face. It hurts to see my dad this way.

"I'm in so much pain I can hardly stand it" I groaned as I opened my eyes. "Do you know what happened?" he sighed as he laid my hand back down on the bed. "You were in a very serious car accident," That's when everything came back to me. The pickup truck crashing into the car. My breathing quickened as I looked around frantically. "Where is everyone?!" my heart pounded in my chest. "Are they alright!?" he looked down and didn't say a single word. "P-please tell me that t-they're okay," I whispered with tears uncontrollably pouring down my face.

"Diana," he sighed as he closed his eyes, trying to build the courage to tell me what was going on with my little sister. "S-She's...i-in a coma," I laid back onto the hospital bed and covered my face with my hands, sobbing. "The doctors say that she could possibly pass on, because there is so much damage to the brain," No. No. No, this can't be happening. I must be in a nightmare or something! My mother and my best friend, Ireland, came to my mind. "What about mom and Ireland?" I asked barely above a whisper, hoping and praying that he'll say that they're fine. But before he could even open his mouth, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Dad instructed. A tall nurse with her hair in a high ponytail walked in with a smile, showing her pearly white teeth. Her face softened once she saw my red, puffy, tear stained face. She walked over to my dad and I. "Hello, Claire. My name's Naomi and I'm going to be your nurse for today. How are you feeling, sweetie?" I shook my head, not knowing how to answer. My emotional pain is unbearable at the moment, as for my physical pain not so much, I'm just sore from head to toe. She nods her head, understanding my pain, emotionally and physical. "Well, I just wanted to let both of you know what we got from the x-rays." She handed the x-rays to my dad, showing him what they saw. "You have a mild concussion. For the next several days, we want you to rest throughout the day. No playing sports or anything of that kind of nature." She continued to inform me about what to do and what not to do. I couldn't pay attention what so ever, my mind is all wrapped around my mother and Ireland. Dad lightly touched my arm making me slightly jump, "What?" he pointed towards Naomi. "She's trying to ask you a question," I look at the nurse with a little bit of embarrassment. "I'm sorry. What's your question?" she gave me a reassuring smile and asked me if anyone has changed my bandages on my side. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Why would I have bandages?