Between (First Two Chapters Only)

Chapter 1:4

I was awakened by a telephone call for the second morning in a row. After about the tenth ring, Mom finally answered her cell. I only heard half of the conversation, but I was able to decipher that Emma was in an accident. Dad and Jimmy were still sound asleep on the other mattress. Mom woke Dad up, and then she explained what happened.

Bryan was driving too fast and lost control of his car when it hydroplaned on the wet pavement. Bryan had a head injury and was in a coma. His date had a broken arm. Both of Mickey's legs were broken. Emma was thrown from the vehicle. She died instantly. Mom didn't tell us, but somehow I knew Emma was thrown from the car and crushed by the car's tire.

I went numb with grief and despair. Mom, Dad, and I quickly got dressed and loaded the truck in the dark. Jimmy slept through it all. Dad took Jimmy from the camper, buckled him into his seat, and drove us home. Once there, Mom took a suitcase from the truck and put it in her van. She gave each of us a hug, and then she left for Uncle Greg's and Aunt Lyn's house.

After Dad put Jimmy to bed, I helped him unpack all the camping supplies. When we were finished, I went to my room. I took the DVD from Evan out of my bag and carefully placed it on my dresser. Then I locked the door, collapsed on my bed, and wept.

After a few hours, Dad came to check on me. "Emily, I'm here if you need to talk."

"No, Dad," I sobbed. "Please go away."

I didn't want to be comforted or told it would be okay. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Tormented by guilt, I couldn't eat or sleep for the rest of the day and the next. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Emma being crushed to death. How could fate be so cruel? I should've insisted that Emma go with us to the lake. I should've told her that she was a traitor for choosing her boyfriend over her family. I should've told her more about my nightmare. Maybe I could've stopped her from going to the monster truck rally. But I did nothing. And now Emma was dead.