The Rock

Part 2

15 years earlier

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The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as our family gathered around the breakfast table, eagerly anticipating our journey to France. My parents wore tense expressions, preoccupied with the myriad of details that go along with travel. In contrast, my little sister's eyes danced with excitement, her cheeks flushed with anticipation as she savoured a fresh croissant - the perfect breakfast to fuel our journey.

"France is going to be so amazing!" she exclaimed, between bites.

My mother interjected with a firm tone, "Sharleen, please chew your food before speaking."

My sister grinned apologetically, then continued, "I can't wait to see all the beautiful flowers in France! Do you think they're different from the ones we have at home?"

My father chimed in, "Well, France is known for its stunning gardens and parks, so I'm sure we'll see plenty of flowers that we don't have at home."

My sister's eyes widened with wonder, and she leaned forward in her seat. "I want to find the most beautiful flower in all of France," she said, a determined glint in her eye.

I chuckled. "And what kind of flower is that, exactly?"

My sister wrinkled her nose thoughtfully, then declared with a flourish, "A peony! They're so big and fluffy, like little clouds of petals. I bet there are loads of peonies in France!"

My mother smiled indulgently. "Well, we'll have to keep our eyes peeled for peonies then, won't we?"

My sister nodded eagerly. "And when I find the perfect one, I'm going to put it in a vase and keep it forever. Even when I'm all grown up!"

As my little sister bubbled with excitement about our upcoming trip to France, the tension in the room began to dissipate. Even my parents, who had been fretting about the trip details only minutes ago, couldn't help but smile at her infectious enthusiasm. Her joyous spirit seemed to fill every inch of the room, and soon we were all laughing together.

It was amazing how just the sound of her laughter could make us forget our worries and fill us with a sense of adventure. Her childlike curiosity was contagious, and we were all caught up in her excitement. Even my dad's stern face was transformed by her boundless energy, and my mom's worries about forgetting something at home seemed to fade away.

Suddenly, the sweet chime of an approaching ice cream truck interrupted our conversation and pulled me out of my daydream. My sister's eager chatter ceased, and we all turned to the window to catch a glimpse of the bright, colourful vehicle as it approached.

Before my little sister could even ask, my mother was already rummaging through her purse, fumbling for some coins to give her. With a smile, she placed the coins in my sister's outstretched hand, who was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Thank you, Mum! I'll be back in a flash!" she exclaimed, darting out of the room as fast as she could.

Taking another bite of my croissant, I daydreamed about all the exciting things we would get to see and do in France. Living in our small village, the thought of exploring an entirely new country filled me with a sense of curiosity and wonder.

I imagined wandering through the charming streets of Paris, admiring the architecture and soaking up the vibrant energy of the city. I pictured picnicking on the rolling hills of the countryside and lounging on the sandy beaches of the Riviera.

I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as I thought about our upcoming adventure in France. It was going to be such a refreshing change of pace from our everyday routine.

Glancing over at my parents, I could see that they were just as thrilled as I was, eagerly discussing all the sights and experiences we would encounter in France.

But it was my little sister's bubbly and infectious personality that really sealed the deal for us. Her boundless energy and enthusiasm were like a ray of sunshine, illuminating everything around her with pure joy and excitement.

"Where is Sharleen?" my mum inquired, gazing at the window. "She should have been back by now."

As I was preparing to rise from my seat, a deafening crash shook me to my core. The world seemed to slow down as screams pierced through the air outside. My parents' faces drained of all colour, and I knew without a word spoken that something terrible had happened. We raced out of the house, and even the mere ten seconds it took to reach the scene felt like an agonizing eternity. Chaos reigned outside as my eyes tried to take in the scene before me. The ice cream truck stood to the right, and a car stood motionless to the left, with a crowd of people huddled around its front. The expressions on their faces twisted with horror and disbelief. My parents rushed to join the throng, their voices drowned out by the overwhelming din of the chaos. For me, the world seemed muted, as if it had slowed down to a crawl. The whole experience felt surreal.

I couldn't bring myself to approach the car and the group of people, so my feet led me towards the ice cream truck instead, from where I watched the tragic scene unfold. As I stumbled over something on the ground, I looked down to see a rock. At first, I almost dismissed it, thinking it was just a normal rock, but then I noticed the familiar white speckles on it. My heart sank as I realised what it was. 

She must have dropped it, I thought.

Guilt flooded over me, and I grabbed the rock from the ground, holding it tightly as tears streamed down my cheeks. I closed my eyes, trying to find some sense of comfort in the weight of the rock. It was as if it was the only thing that could keep me from completely falling apart.