"Emmy?" I heard my mom's frantic voice as I started to open my eyes. "Emmy, you're awake. Thank God," she breathed, relieved. I looked at her, my eyes wide, as she tried to smile.
"Mom?" I asked, very confused. I didn't remember anything that had happened. "What?"
"You're in the hospital, Em," came my dad's gruff voice. I took a sharp breath as I remembered the car crash.
"Ari?" She was the only thing on my mind. The last thing that I'd seen before I woke up was her, hanging from the driver's side of the car, held in only by her seat belt. Mom and Dad exchanged quick glances that told me something was wrong.
"How are you feeling?" Mom asked, plastering a smile on her face, trying to get the subject off of Ari.
"My arm really hurts," I said, and looked over to see that it was in a bright blue cast. "But what happened to Ari?" I said more forcefully this time, desperate for information about my best friend.
"Emelia, can't we talk about this later?" Mom begged, but I shook my head.
"Tell her, Tess. It's not like we can keep it from her." Dad moved to sit in the chair next to my bed.
"She's gone, Em," Mom said, her voice a bit choked up. "I'm so sorry, sweetie, I'm so sorry." It felt like somebody had forced all of the air out of my lungs.
"What?" I croaked, and both of my parents gave me sympathetic looks. "You're wrong," I shook my head, desperately trying to believe myself. "Nope. She's okay. You guys are wrong." But even as I said the words, I could feel a tear trailing down my cheek.
"Oh, Emmy," Dad said, reaching over and giving me a hug. I hugged him as tight as I could as I started to cry.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, pulling away from Dad. I twisted on my side and buried my face in my hands. Dad just let me and started to rub my back.
"I know it's going to hurt, but think, she's probably in a better place now. She's watching over us now, and -" Mom began, but I cut her off.
"Shut up!" I screamed, and Mom's eyes widened. "Just stop it. Please," I whispered.
"Emelia Rachel Clarkson! That is enough. Do not yell at me because I am trying to help you!" Mom said angrily. I wanted to scream, first this and now another fight with Mom. "I didn't even want to let you go to this concert. If you hadn't gone, then you know Ari would still be here." I gasped at her words, and started to cry even more.
"Theresa!" Dad said, standing up looking Mom right in the eye. "That's enough. You didn't need to yell at her." All I wanted right now was for someone to hold me, someone to tell me that it was all going to be okay. But I knew that neither of my parents was going to give me that right now.
"Please, can you two just go?" I begged, wiping my eyes.
"Emmy, are you sure?" Dad turned to look at me.
"Yeah. Please. Come back later if you want. I just kind of want to be alone, you know?"
"Okay. Call me if you need me, okay sweetie?" Dad said, concern in his eyes. I nodded, and he hugged me one last time before walking out, pulling Mom behind him.
As soon as they were gone, I broke down and started to sob. Half an hour later, I was laying in bed, feeling kind of numb, when a nurse came in.
