The Accident

Chapter 1- Something Like Sleep

Each time I surface into consciousness, I will myself back down into sleep, or something like sleep. I don't think or dream about anything, unless a big, black canvas of nothingness counts. I feel my mother come into my room twice, once putting her hand on my forehead as if to feel a fever.

"I'm not sick." I mumble.
"I know," she says. "I just wanted to touch your forehead."

Sometime later, I feel another presence in my room; not my mother though.

"Siena."
It's Ty; my older brother. He's working half the time, he always makes excuses how he never has time to hang out with the family. But in reality, he's sitting on his couch watching episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

I rub my eyes, turning my body over. "What are you doing here?"

"I slept over. Thought I'd spend some quality time with my sister."

"Oh."

"Anyway," he says as I turn over again, "Im not going to have quality time with you if you sleep all day. Its 2 in the afternoon, get the hell up you lazy ass."

"Whats in it for me?" I say, before I bury my head into my pillow.

He stays quiet for a minute and dives onto my bed, nearly pushing me off. "I'll make you my award-winning salami omelet."

"I'll get up," I turn to face him, "If you dont make me your award-winning salami omelet."

"Sounds good to me." He walks out of my room, running downstairs.

-

When I flop into a kitchen chair 15 minutes later, my washed hair dripping down the back of my t-shirt, Ty puts a plate in front of me.

"But," I say, staring at the award-winning salami omelet I did not want him to make.

My mom appears as I take the first bite, and gives me a kiss on my forehead before she greets me a good morning.

"You ready for your driver's test today?" She tells me, before gulping down a cup of orange juice.

I play with my omelet using my fork and shrug, "To be honest with you, Im kinda scared."

My mom and Ty chuckle, and I sit there, staring at my omelet.

Im kind of afraid, you know? Its crazy to think that back when I was, what, 2? I would be asking my mom to buy me this Barbie jeep toy car shit, and now I get to drive my own, REAL, car. Its crazy, you know? But, Im afraid. Ive never wondered what it would be like to be labeled as a driver.

"Siena?" Mom snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry." I get up, and put my plate in the sink, "I'm gonna go get ready for the test."

-

"Are you ready?" The instructor asks.
I take a breath and close my eyes for a split second, and open them again.

"Yeah, let's go."

-
"Um, I want you to take a left onto Landis Ave and show me a U-Turn going to that grocery shop over there." He points out.

I do what he says, for the seven billionth time, and I take a left.

"WATCH OUT FOR THAT G-"