Sweet Dreams

They Grow Up To Fast

Jenna

I get up from the bed towards the living room to find something for dinner. I feel like crap. So, I think I'll just stick some fish sticks in the oven. Poor Alyssa I shouldn't be so protective over her all the time. Every time she asks to do something with Jessie. I tell her no.

I guess it's the fact that I don't want her to grow up. It feels like yesterday. I was holding her in my arms with Jim sitting next to me, she looked up and smiled from ear to ear. That was the first time she ever smiled I'll never forget it. I wish I could go back to that moment of true happiness and just press pause. I used to sing to her every night. And she would just love it. She would fall asleep so instantly to the sound of my singing voice. Now it's hard for me to hold a conversation with her. She's growing up so fast before my eyes.

I wipe the tears from my face. Thinking of all those happy moments gets me overwhelmed. I hear footsteps behind me so I turn to see Jim facing me. He lightly kisses my cheek and gives me a smile while rubbing my belly. We are both overjoyed to know that we are going to have a baby boy.

I look up at him "How was work?" I ask him. "Well I told Stan I was having a baby boy. And he said that's exactly what our town needs is a new boy. He told me that he'd give me a raise." He annoced with a big smile on his face. "Oh my gosh! He just gave you a raise. We better start setting that extra bedroom up for him. I think Elijah would want it yellow and in winnie the pooh!" I said all excited. "Or maybe camoflage" I looked at him saying. He got a smile on his face "Now that's what I'm talking about!" I gave him the 'yeah you wish' look.

We sat there laughing for a minute. Then he looks up, "Where's Alyssa? I want to tell her the good news." He said excitedly. "She went to Jessie's for a bit. I can't keep telling her no forever. It's just wrong. She is seventeen now. I got to get over the fact that my little angel is all grown up." He looked at me. "Well she ain't all the way I hate to tell you. But I think I trust this boy he has been over several times in the past few years." He told me. "Yeah.. Well I'm gonna go lay down until she gets home. Oh and there is fish sticks in the oven!" I smiled at him.

I lay down and close my eyes and what feels like thirty minutes later.

I hear my phone ringing in the living room. I get up to go answer. I see Jim enjoying his dinner on the couch.

"Hello" I say into the phone. It was Becky the nurse from the hospital calling. "Jenna, You guys need to get down here. There's been an accident. It's Alyssa." In that moment I dropped my phone and ran to the door hollering for Jim to come. I looked back and he had a confused look. "DON'T JUST SIT THERE! Come on Alyssa has been in an accident!" I yell.

We get there as fast as we can. I race into the hosiptal and Dr. Harmon grabes my hand leading us to her room. He was explaining how her car accident had happened. "She's in good condition considering what she's been through. She should be able to go home tomorrow," Dr. Harmon says in a caring voice,"come on I'll show you her room, she's napping right now."

As we come up to her room I see this young man just about the age of Alyssa sitting by her room wrapped in a small blanket. He had dark hair, almost black but not quit. "Who are you?" I ask him. He looks up and he is soaking wet. "This is Dan Grandle, he is the one who found your daughter. He actually saved her life," Dr. Harmon explains, "His family just moved her last week"

"Yes mam' I was on my way to my house when I saw her." He looked up at me saying then looked back in the room towards Alyssa. Tears start streaming down my face when I see her. My poor baby girl. Jim goes into the room and hugs her. Her eyes open and I felt my heart drop. I race in there and we all just sit there talking. She looked at me and I could tell she was hurt. Not only on the outside. But something else happened.