At First Sight

3. Everything Changes

"There is no grief like the grief that does not speak."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Grief and tragedy strikes when you least expect it. We never think it will ever happen to us. I for one would never wish it upon anyone. But little did I know it would strike sooner than I ever hoped for.

"Somebody help!"

Oh God I'm going to die. "Mom, dad, wake up." My vision blurs as I feel blood dripping down my face. I can feel the heat from the car. Is the car on fire? I struggle to move but I can't I'm too weak. I guess this is it, I'm too young to die.

Earlier that day

"Can't you just ask your parents to change plans." Hunter slings his arm around my shoulders, and plants a kiss on my head. "I wanted to take you out on a date Cass."

I sigh because I would like to go but I simply cannot.

"Can we try for tomorrow. My parents expect me home after school. For reasons I do not know of."

We walk towards the exit of the school when Hunter stops me and pulls me into a hug.

"Until tomorrow then." He kisses my cheek and I kiss his cheek as well.

"Looking forward to it." I turn around and walk towards our car. I look back and see Hunter still watching. I blush and wave one last time before I get in the car.

"Hello sweetheart."

"Mom! What are you doing here?" I jump out of the car and get into the passenger seat next to mom. She laughs and pats my knee. "Am I not allowed to pick up my daughter?" She wiggles her eyebrows at me making me giggle. "I'm not complaining mom, just surprised." She pats my knee as she takes off. "Well you will see more of us that you just might get sick of us."

I can't help but smile. Because it does get lonely when they are gone more often than not.

"I highly doubt that."

The rest of the way home we talk and sing, even though we couldn't hold a tune. Once home when we enter our house my dad gets up, I can't help but run into his arms. I feel like a little kid again. But once he puts me down I get anxious.

"Okay, what is going on?"

My mother pats the seat on the couch and I sit down.

"Well sweetheart your Uncle decided to join in on Logan Enterprise. So with him on board we can be home more often."

I am overjoyed and can't help the big smile on my face.

"For real."

She nods her head and I can't help but throw my arms around her.

"This is great news!"

My father pats my shoulder and squeezes gently. "We do have a business dinner that we need to attend, and we would like for you to join us."

"But..."

"Cassie, it will show you what the business is like when you are ready to join us for your internship next year."

I groan internally because I really don't want to work in the family business.

"Fine" I know I sound like a brat, but I could have gone on a date with Hunter tonight instead.

"Perfect be ready in a hour."

I head upstairs and walk into my bathroom and take a shower. I hate these meetings, I have to look presentable enough. Why can't I just do what I'm passionate about? I guess it can't be all bad. It will be a great learning experience I suppose.

"Ugh!"

My emotions and thoughts are so conflicted. On the one hand I want to make my parents proud. On the other hand doesn't my happiness count for something? I get out of the shower and get dressed. By the time I'm done it's time to go.

As we get in the car and take off I get a message from Lily saying she has my History book. Snicker Doodles, I need that to finish my homework.

"Hey dad, can we stop by Lily's I need to grab my History book real quick."

"We have a little bit of time before the meeting." He turns the car around and head toward Lily's. I sigh in relief, I don't like screwing up on my school work.

"Thanks dad." We are stopped at a light and he turns back to look at me. "I know this is not your idea of fun, but it will benefit you." I nod my head because if I open my mouth I might say something I regret. A car honks behind us and my dad chuckles. "Some people are so impatient. If people would be..." But he never got to finish the sentence because a car collided into ours fast.

You know in the movies where everything happens in slow motion. That is a complete and utter misconception. It happen so fast that everything was a blur. My screams drown out all other noises. The car spins and spins until it decides to flip over and over, rolling down the road.

My head slams into the window more than once, that I hear a crack. Mom and dad try to say something but is drowned out by the ringing in my ears. Just when I think it's never going to end, it stops. I try to unbuckle my seat belt but it is stuck.

"Somebody help me!"

I look at my parents through blurry vision. "Mom, dad...wake up." I try to jostle them awake but it's not working. I scream at the top of my lungs. This is not happening, it can't be happening. I feel the blood trickle down my face, and I panic more when I smell smoke. Oh God this is it I'm going to die.

I pound on the window and I hear sirens, but I don't think they will make it on time. The tears start flowing down my face, I don't want us to die.

"Ma'am sit tight, we are going to get you out of here."

"Get my parents out first." I yell. I can't see there is spots and my vision is completely blurry. "We'll get you all out I promise." My adrenaline fades and everything turns black.

What brings me to is the beeping of machine's. I slowly open my eyes but everything is still a blurry mess.

"Welcome back Miss Logan." I startle and look at the blurry figure.

"What's going on?" I blink to see if my vision clears but it doesn't. "Why can't I see properly?"

"Well dear my name is Dr. Carter and there is some damage to your retina. The accident, you hit your head several times. Not only did you get a severe concussion but you had bleeding on the brain."

My hand instinctively feels my head and tears leave my eyes as I feel the bandage on the shaved part of my head.

"You've been in a induced coma for the past week to help get the swelling down. Also we need to monitor your eyes to see if your vision comes back, or if it's permanent damage."

"I could be blind."

"Yes dear that can be a possibility but we will run some tests to see how much damage there is."

"Where's my mom and dad? I need to see them."

I feel Dr. Carter sit down on the bed and take my hand. "I'm sorry dear but your parents didn't make it."

"Th-they're d-dead."

"We did everything we could to save them but unfortunately it wasn't enough."

I rip my hand from hers and scream from the top of my lungs.

My parents are dead and it is all my fault. If I didn't ask them to go to Lily's they would still be alive.

Oh God! What have I done? One thing is for sure this changes everything and I know I will never be the same.