Emily's eyes fluttered open, her head pounding, her body aching all over. She was in a hospital room, surrounded by beeping machines and sterile white walls. Her father, John, sat beside her, his eyes red-rimmed, his face etched with worry.
"Dad?" Emily croaked, her throat dry and sore.
John's face lit up with a weak smile. "Hey, kiddo. You're awake."
Emily's memories came flooding back - the accident, the hospital, her mother's death. She felt a wave of grief wash over her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on her father.
"What's going on, Dad?" Emily asked, her voice still shaky.
John hesitated, his eyes darting around the room. "We need to talk about something, Emily. Something important."
Emily's instincts kicked in, her heart racing with anticipation. "What is it?"
John took a deep breath. "We're moving, Emily. We're leaving the city, starting fresh in a small town."
Emily's eyes widened in shock. "What? No, Dad. We can't leave. We can't leave Mom behind."
John's face fell, his eyes filling with tears. "Emily, we have to. The city is too much for you, too overwhelming. You need a fresh start, a chance to heal."
Emily's anger flared, her body tensing with resistance. "No, Dad. I won't go. I won't leave my friends, my school, my life."
John's expression turned firm, his jaw set. "Emily, I know this isn't easy, but we have to do what's best for you. And what's best for you is to get out of this city."
Emily's eyes flashed with defiance. "You can't make me go, Dad. I'm old enough to make my own decisions."
John's face hardened, his voice firm. "Emily, you're still under my care, and as your father, it's my responsibility to make decisions for you. And I've made the decision to move. We're going, whether you like it or not."
Emily's face fell, her eyes welling up with tears. She knew she was beaten, that her father had made up his mind. She felt a wave of resentment wash over her, but she knew she had to accept reality.
The discharge process was a blur, Emily's mind still reeling from her father's announcement. As they left the hospital, Emily's anger and resentment simmered just below the surface.
As they drove to their new home, Emily sat in silence, her eyes fixed on the window, her heart heavy with grief and resistance. She knew she had to accept her new reality, but she couldn't help feeling like she was being torn away from her mother, from her past, from her life.
YOU ARE READING
Broken Glass
Romansa" When tragedy strikes, 17-year-old Emily's world is turned upside down. Losing her mother to lung cancer, she's forced to start anew in a small town. " *Expect unexpected plot twists*
