Madelaine

Prologue

   "First place! I knew you could do it," my brother Kayden said as he ruffled my short brunette hair.

   "Yeah, yeah, yeah," I said as I fixed my misplaced hair, grumbling under my breath. I looked out the window as the leaves from the baring trees fell towards the ground. Fall was my favorite season, the weather got colder, but never to cold. The sweaters were brought out, the hot chocolate, and the fuzzy socks. The cinnamon scents that invaded all the stores and homes wafted through the air. Everything was just perfect.

My dad looked over his shoulder at me, smiling proudly at my accomplishment that was sitting on my lap. My heart swelled at the pride I saw in his eyes. The painting I had done for my show was one that I'd worked on for months. It was a picture representing the fall season, with the orange, browns, and yellows that covered the canvas. There was a young teen under the tree, reading a book surrounded by the fallen needles and pine cones of the pine tree.

The wind blew through the car running its fingers through my hair, as we headed home from my first art show. The music sounded from the radio, as I hummed to the lyrics of the song. Life was good, I'd accomplished something big and I couldn't wait to continue my passion.

   "You hungry kiddo? Want to stop by a drive through and grab something to eat?" My dad asked looking at my green eyes through the rear view mirror.

   My eyes widened with excitement and my mouth watered at the thought of food.
"Chick-fil-a!" I shouted with eagerness.

"Good idea, we can also pick up some chicken noddle soup for your little sister to help her feel better." My dad commented.

   "Of course, you choose that every time Madeline," my brother said with an eye roll.

   "Mad-e-lane, you know I hate when people mispronounce my name," I huffed while rolling my eyes at him. "Now hush, you know you love the food there," I said as my dad pulled up to a stoplight. As the light turned green I heard the sound of squealing tires approaching and horns honking loudly. As my dad pulled through the intersection my eyes widened as fear consumed me. Across the intersection was a car winding its way through traffic not caring that he could potentially end someone's life with their reckless driving. The car speed closer as my dad slammed the breaks and the sound of metal hitting metal sounded through my ears. My entire body was in shock, I felt glass trickle onto my skin as we were flipped upside down. My screams ricocheted off the now crushed walls of the tumbling car. Everything hurt, I felt the blood on my skin and my pounding heart hitting my bruised rib cage. Then my head smacked the roof of the car and darkness consumed me.

   The sound of sirens wailed in the air as the paramedics pulled my still body from the ambulance. My eyes blinked adjusting to the blinding lights above roll past my vision and voices surrounded me as I enter the ICU. Everything was still blurry, my eyes hurt and it felt like someone was having a rave inside my head. The face of a paramedic looks down at me, lips moving, but the words don't reach me as my eyes close once again.

   My eyes slowly open as the sound of beeping machines reach my ears and silent sobbing, my mom looks up at me through teary eyes. "Oh honey, your finally awake," my moms choked voice said.

   Groggily I questioned, "how long have I been out?" My head was pounding in my ears and it felt like my head would explode any minute.

   "About three days," she said with concern. I looked around the room realizing it was just my mom and my sleeping five year old sister.

   "Where's dad and Kayden?" I asked as fear trickled in my stomach.

   My mom's mouth opened slightly before pausing in hesitation— not being able to get the words out either one of us wanted to face. Not being able to take her brown eyes off my face that held so much grief she forced herself to continue with unshed tears. "Sweetie, your brother and father never made it out of the car." She said a tear falling from her eye. What? No that can't be, I can't be the only survivor.