Good Luck Anna

World Shattering

"Anna, I'm sorry to forcefully bring you here" sorrow laces her face while she massages her temple, taking my worry into full on anxiety.

She sighs deeply, "I have to inform you that your brother has been in an accident and he is currently in hospital" the somber tone of her voice is rocketing tears to my eyeballs.

"Mum was with him, is she okay?... I have been trying to reach her for days...where are they? What is wrong with Alex?" My voice cracks as the anxiety works its way up my throat.

The scene before me makes more sense as I'm either about to throw up or pass out all depending on my camp counsellor's response to my last question.

Cindy lets out a long breath and I know it's bad, I'm not sure when exactly I started crying but I can feel the tears splash on my trembling arms. "Alex is conscious and as far as I could make out, he seems to just have a broken foot" her eyes fill with sympathy "your mom hasn't been found."

Completely losing it as a wet scream leaves my mouth and I am so thankful that Cindy breaks protocol to come give me a hug. Clinging to her shirt while white hot misery slices through me.

My body shakes in her arms and Cindy silently rubs my back in a way that usually calms me down but does nothing today.

"What happened...why..." I have to stop when a heavy sob overtakes me.

"Car accident, I think he crashed into a lake or the ocean, it was difficult to understand the nurse, she had a very strong accent" her voice is soft at my ear.

Suddenly it hits me like a train. My mum is dead.

I didn't think it was possible but I cry harder, I was hoping to live in denial that she wasn't with Alex during the accident or they just couldn't find her but if they have crashed into water, I know she is dead.

It has been three days since I heard from either of them. If they haven't found her by now, she is gone. It feels like a stab through the heart, pain floods my chest with every beat.

My kind, loving, beautiful mum is dead.

"Edward called, we have booked you a flight to go to your brother, I haven't been able to get a hold of you dad but we assume he is with Alex." Cindy pulls away from my shaking body and it takes everything for me not to grab her back.

"Do you need help to pack?" I shake my head numbly, she gives my shoulders a squeeze before walking around to the lock boxes lining the wall, fumbling with her keys she unlocks my box handing my phone and little cash I brought with me. It feels like a brick in my hands as I stare dumbly at it before climbing to my feet leaving the room in a complete daze.

I was pretty much already packed, since I was planning on begging mum to let me leave the moment, I got hold of her but I would stay here for the next decade if it meant that my mum was alive and happy.

After my fifth failed call to dad, I let out a frustrated scream. I have no idea how Alex is coping with being there during the accident, but it has got to have messed him up.

I just want to talk to him; I need to know he is ok. If he is stuck with dad Alex will definitely be struggling.

Dad generally acts like we don't exist but the rare occasions he pays attention to Alex its exclusively to criticise him.

Nothing Alex does is ever enough it doesn't matter that he is able to get straight A's even when he spends his entire weekends working that shitty supermarket job. It doesn't matter that two of the best universities in the country offered him unconditional places. It is never enough if he "wants to be successful in this world".