What If?

What If? A Short Story

January 1st 1997, was the year everything finally made sense, and it wasn't a good sense, it was a very unpleasant and terrible type of sense. When I look back at everything that went on in my past life I feel so stupid. How can someone be so dumb? How can someone not see what is going on around them?

"I am very sorry Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but we are doing the best we can do." the nurse said looking at my parents with sorrow.

This is when I began to question what really went on that night.

"What do you mean you are doing the best you can do? Can't you try to work a little harder and try to save my little girl!" my mother shouted.

Hearing all this screaming in the background made me wonder what was going on. Why were people getting so worked up about me? Where was I and how did I get here?

"Kelly calm down everything's going to be fine. They are doing the best they can do right now." said my dad with tears in his eyes trying to hide the fear and pain.

All I can remember happening after that was hearing two people storming out of the room and a women screaming and crying that she wanted her "little girl" back. Everything in my body went numb and I could not remember anything. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what happened.

It was November 13th 1997 when we first came to America. My mom, dad, two sisters, brother, and I all lived in England our whole lives but one day when we were sitting down at the dinner table my parents announced that we were starting a new chapter in our life due to the crime and danger continuing to progress in our neighborhood. Slowly, families were leaving the area in fear that they would get hurt and now it was our time. My older brother and I, being the two oldest in the family had to stay strong and act like everything would be ok. A couple months later we had to leave and it was very difficult because the government was closing the borders but we found a way out.

"We are going to a much safer neighborhood kids, everything will be ok." my mom said with a smile on her face trying to act like everything would be fine.

I could see the pain on my sister's faces and even my brother looked a little scared, but I faked a smiled to show everyone it wouldn't be as bad as we thought. Later on we moved into the new neighborhood and it was a whole lot different than England. The houses were so big and beautiful, and even the guard at the front of the gated community was so friendly. Everywhere I went people smiled at me and waved, they were so nice here. New York was treating us great so far.

The next day my mom woke us because it was the first day of school. I got ready quickly and looked in the mirror. There was something different about the way people dressed here. In England, I went to a private school where we wore a polo with a plaid skirt and knee high socks with our hair and makeup done every day, so we looked our best. This private school you wore a similar uniform but kids in America left their hair down natural and had little makeup on so I tried to fit in. I grabbed my bag and started to get into the car with my brother.

"Good luck at school today sweetie!" my mom hugged me and smiled.

I faked a smile and got into the car thinking about what the school would be like. The movies made being the new girl seem so horrible. Usually you would think of a girl walking alone in the hallways with everyone making fun of her, and I really hope that wasn't how it was going to be. When we got to school I instantly felt numb. Everything was so big and there were so many people around me. When my brother left because his classes were the opposite way I walked down the hallways looking down in silence hoping no one would notice me.

Soon enough the bell rang and I was going to be late to my new class. I was walking as fast as I could searching for someone to help me.

"Hey you look a little lost do you need help?" a guy with brown hair said looking at me chuckling.