The Fortunate One

~1~

THE FORTUNATE ONE

The screeching of the car tires. The blaring sound of several car horns at once. Seeing my family thrusted forwards into the shattering windshield. The flashbacks never seem to fade. They can't. They won't.

My name is Calista Coutinho and I live in São Paulo, Brasil in the little town of Mogi Das Cruzes. I am currently 18 years old but am about to turn 19 very soon. A few months ago the worst day of my life happened...

I had just graduated high school and my parents were taking me to my graduation party at my grandmother's house. They were laughing and smiling while my mother was looking at my diploma. I smiled to myself with ear buds in my ears thinking that so many people don't get to have a great family like mine.

I was born with money, as my father was the CEO of a famous clothing brand in Brasil and my mother was an Anesthesiologist. It was always an advantage to have money but I never really wanted money. It never appealed to me.

I was looking down when the wreck happened. I don't even know what happened. All I remember is my dad looking at pictures of me while I was walking up onto the stage. Then I went back to changing the song I was listening to and I was knocked unconscious.

I woke up in a hospital bed with my grandmother next to me, holding my hand. All my other relatives had passed and she was all I had besides my parents. I tried to smile at her but I winced in pain.
"Your face is bruised from the wreck. Pretty badly. You'll be fine though."

  "Where are my parents? Are they in a different room?"