That Night (On Hold)

Chapter 1//

"Today will be different. I'm not going to let everything that has happened get in the way of being happy. I can still be happy...."

I started to write in my Diary.

My name is Sage Gray, my parents died.
I probably should have said that in a softer way, but is there any better way to say it?
It was early spring and we were on our way home from a visit to my great grandma Pearl's house.

We were crossing our town's (Beaufort, SC) most known bridge when my dad lost control of the car and went off the side of the bridge.

I remember hitting the surface of the water so clearly.

My brother was terrified and screaming, but my parents held hands and told us everything would be fine.

I was terrified.

The car started to fill with water and suddenly I wasn't scared anymore.

I had come to the realization that I was going to die, we all were.

I just grabbed my brother Ethan's hand and didn't even try to escape. I simply just sat there waiting for my heart to stop, remembering all the things I would leave behind, regretting all the things I did wrong.

And then everything was black.

I woke up in a hospital bed, surrounded with my closest friends. I was confused, wondering how I had gotten out.

Did my parents save me? Did my brother?

I sat up, trying to catch my breath and asked my best friend, Sara, who I think of as a sister, what happened.

"How did I get here? Where are my parents? Where's Ethan?" I asked.

She started to cry. Why would she be crying? I started to panic.

"What...what happened? Is everyone ok?"

"I'm so sorry.." she said as she started to sob.
My breathing started to get heavier, I started to get light headed.

"What happened?!??" I said louder this time as I started to cry.

She couldn't answer. She just sat there crying while shaking her head.

I looked around at my other friends that had visited me. Each one stared at me with a blank face.

Not knowing what to say. I started to get up, but one of my other friends, Shay, held me down.

"No, stay put. We will explain everything"

I didn't want to hear a sugarcoated, dragged out version of what happened. What I wanted was the truth.

Just the stone cold truth.

I forced my way out of the bed pushing past her, forgetting there was an IV in my wrist. I detached myself from the machine and proceeded to find a doctor.

I ran to the first doctor I found and immediately started to bombard her with questions about my family.

She was concerned and told me to go back to my room and she would explain everything to me there, but I pried for answers.

I wanted them there and then, right at that moment. Finally, she broke. She blurted, without any filter,

"They're dead!"

Shocked and overwhelmed with emotions I let go of her arm that I didn't realize I was grasping the whole time.

"What..?" I said quietly, not believing anything at the moment.

"I'm so sorry, there was nothing we could do."

"Who...who is dead?"

"Both of your parents, you and your brother Ethan were the only two left"

I started to crouch down next to a wall. I was filled with shock, sadness, anger, every emotion I could think of at the moment.
I remember losing it. I cried. I screamed.

All I had left was Ethan. Who would take care of us.

It's been nearly 5 months since that day. Me and Ethan live with our Aunt Lauren.

Today is the first day of my Junior year.

This year I am a new person, I'm starting over.

I'm not going to hesitate to live my life, because I know now that I could lose it at any moment.