Before the fall

Phoenix To Sedona

-Before-

July 4th, 2021 

It was the morning of the Fourth of July.

My mom (Juliana) made it tradition for my dad to take off work so we could spend the day together as a family. Each year we would pack up the car and drive from Phoenix to Sedona to watch the firework show with my dad's side of the family. It was fun for the most part but in reality I only had one cousin close to my age which would be Priscilla. Priscilla and I are a year and three months apart she's 17 and I'm 18. I always looked forward to seeing her. She always has a bubbly personality, the kind that makes you wonder if she's really okay. Mentally. 

1 hour and 56 minutes 

That's how long it takes us to get from Phoenix to Sedona, My dad (Thor) doesn't seem to mind the drives. Then again my dad doesn't really show any emotion on his face, not in a robot type of way but in a way where we could tell that he is happy even when he has a straight face. My mom always tells me I'm more like him. Antisocial at first but when you get to know me and break down the walls I've put up, I'm literally a crackhead. So yeah I guess I am like him, but I'm also like my mom. Caring, sensitive and bold. I've been like that my whole life I guess. 

1 hour and 15 minutes 

We stop at Albertsons so we can get a few more canned sodas and Cheetos for the drive. We all gradually get out of the car and start walking towards the entrance. 

"Juliana, we didn't even stop for gas yet and you're already wanting food. We just ate", My dad says. My mom glances over at me and whispers "Just wait until I make him stop at Mcdonald's later". I let out a soft giggle and my dad looks over with a confused brow and asks "What's so funny?", "Oh nothing" I smile and say. My mom made the plan for my dad to grab the drinks and for her and I to find the Cheetos. As my mom and I walk over towards the Cheetos I notice they have new Reeses butter cups with potato chips inside on the next aisle, I walk over to take a glance. I pick one up and turn it over and look down to see the nutritional facts and see 370 calories per serving. "Why would anyone buy this?" I say to myself, as those words fell from my lips I see a hand go to grab one. As I look up, I see the prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen before in my life. He had brown almost gold hair that complimented the blue eyes perfectly, almost as if he was molded by a greek god himself. 

As I'm admiring the brown haired stranger  I'm interrupted by a voice coming from the ocean eyes themself. "Apparently, I would" with a laugh, he says "Hi, I'm Colton". I break from my gaze and say "Well that's kinda gross, I'm Violet by the way". With a smile he says "Well, It's nice to meet you Violet". "If you think this is gross I'd hate for you to see my choice of drink" he says. " And what would that be?" I say. He lets out a small smirk and says "Follow me". 

We walk to the drink aisle and long behold he grabs a Kombucha. I look at him with my head cocked confused, Then I mimicked a throwing up gesture. He lets out a loud laugh, which makes me laugh and we both started laughing with tears almost filling up our eyes. "You're pretty funny  Violet, Not many people can make me laugh". "Are you gonna give me the 'I'm not like other girls' speech next", I say with a grin. "Nah not today Vi". The only person to ever call me Vi was my mother, which would always make me feel childlike, but for some reason when he said it, it sent a wave of butterflies flowing through my stomach. 

We spent the next five minutes talking about where each of us were doing for the fourth, him and his family are driving from Phoenix to Seattle, because his dad got a promotion at a new firm and their mom got a job as a professor at Seattle University. And I explained to him the tradition we have every year for our trip to Sedona. 

"Well it was really nice meeting you Violet, but I have to get back to my mom at the check out line." he says. "yeah, it was nice meeting you too", I say. He turns around and starts walking towards the next aisle but stops in his tracks. He starts walking back towards me and says "Would it be okay if I got your number?". I smile and say yes we both exchange phones and put each others contact information in. I label my contact name in his phone as " Cute Girl From Store ♥︎". He hands me back my phone and smiles one last time before walking away and says " Catch you later Vi". As he walks away I look down at my phone and see the contact name he put in my phone which says "Kombucha 💙". I smile and turn around only to see my mom giving me the goofiest smile.

 "Mom, Do Not Say ANYTHING". I say with a embarrassed smile. She chuckles and says "Okay I won't, only If I get two grandchildren from you". "MOM!" I say. "What you're my only child and he was so handsome". "Yep, I'm going to find dad", "Violet, wait is that a yes?" she says laughing while trailing right behind me. 

We find my dad waiting in the check out line and wait to pay so we can be on our way on the road again. 

50 minutes and 10 seconds 

The last hour in the car is always the most boring,  After the Albertsons trip when we got back in the car I decided to take a nap to kill time. I woke up to my mom and dad laughing and the sound of a new bag of fresh Cheetos being opened, the smell of cheddar cheese. My mom turned to look at me and said " Sorry Vi, I didn't mean to wake you". I sit up and rub my face to adjust my eyes to the bright light coming from the window. "It's okay, Are we almost there yet?" I say. "Almost buggy, we're in the last hour". My dad says. 

My dad called me buggy since I was 5.  Apparently when I was 5 there was a spider in the kitchen and my mom screamed and called my dad in from the living room to go kill it. I was standing right next to my mom when I saw it, When my dad came in with a shoe he was about to kill it. But that's when I looked up at my dad and yelled "STOP". It's just a buggy. My dad lowered his shoe and watched as I grabbed a paper towel from the bottom cabinet and grabbed the tiny house spider. My dad walked with me to the front door and set it free. My dad picked me up and looked me in the eye and said "My little buggy". 

"I still remember that day Vi, You were my little hero", my mom said. "That little spider scared you Shit-less!" my dad said. my mom looked over at my dad and smacked his arm and laughed " Oh shut it Thor". My mom glanced over at me as I starring out the window. " I know what will make this go faster" she said. I eagerly looked over and said "Nothing can make this go faster". In that moment my mom reached over and typed a song on her phone and connected to the car.

-Recommended to play the song below while reading this scene- 

Their wedding song, my favorite song

We all looked at each other and smiled and started singing the song in parts at the top of our lungs.

Thor- LISTEN BABYYY

Juliana - AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH

Thor - AIN'T NO VALLEY LOW

Violet - AIN'T NO RIVER WIIIDE ENOUGH BABY 

Juliana & Thor - IF YOU NEED ME CALL ME NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE 

I Looked at my parents singing, you can tell that they are still so in love with each other even after 19 years of marriage. I always wonder if I'm going to be able to experience something like that in my lifetime. I hope so. 

I break from my day dream and look at the road ahead embracing moments like these forever.

That is until I saw it. 

The unsteady Semi-Truck  directly in front of us swerving in and out of lanes, headed directly towards us. 

"DAD WATCH OUT!" I screamed. He looks up and turns the wheel trying his hardest to swerve away from the truck but it's too late. My mom squeezes my hand, as if she's bracing herself for the both of us. A hard hit, The sound of glass shattering, Tires screeching , The truck horn and my moms touch. 

That's all I remember after I blacked out and Went

Numb.