Unknown Chances

Chapter One

A/N:  Hey, I'm Casey :) I’m super excited about this story!  Well, ENJOY!

I just got out of the shower when I hear the phone ring.  I race down the stairs so fast that I almost slip.  I've been waiting for the phone to ring all day.  My grandma, Irene, was put in the hospital last night.  She's very sick with liver cancer.  I answer the phone, it's my mom.

"She's fine for now, but the doctors say she's only got a couple more weeks left before..." her voice trails off.

I know exactly what she means to say.

"Mom, are we going to the hospital to see her?" I ask.

"Well, that's another reason why I called.  Honey, your father is away on business and I can’t take off now because an important meeting is coming up.  I know your starting university in a month, but do you think you'd be okay with going over to Mullingar to help your grandma out?"  She calmly explains.

My knees go weak. Ireland?  I’ve never traveled outside of America.

"You don't have to if you aren't comfortable about it, “she says.

“I’m fine with it.  I love grandma,” I say, “I want to be with her.”

"Okay you fly out Sunday," she says.

"Okay, love you," I slowly say.

"Love you too," she answers me.

She hangs up a couple seconds later.  I’m going to Ireland to see my dying grandmother.  I love my grandma just as much as anybody else, but the idea of flying across the globe scares me.  It’s only Friday now and I’m supposed to be going out with Melissa and Heather.

I wake up the next morning with a pounding headache and my clothes from last night strewn across my room.  My white dress is covered in red wine and my Jessica Simpson pumps are missing their heels.  I get up and step on a sharp nail on the ground.

“OW!” I scream in agonizing pain.

Great.  Now I have a nail stuck in my foot.  I try for 20 minutes to get it out, but it’s no use.  I strap on my boots and head to the Emergency Room.

When I get there, the place seems empty and deserted.  There are people here who look like they need serious help.  There are people here who look like they cannot stand hospitals.  Then, I start to think about my grandma in the hospital.   I try to ease my mind off of it, as it will only make me cry.

“Julia Preston?”  I hear my name called from across the room.

“Hi,” I greet the nurse, “I have a nail stuck in my foot and I really want it out.”

The nurse laughs.

“Right this way,” he giggles at me more.

I sit down on the bed and take my shoe off. Ouch.  That was I all I could think to myself.

“How’d this happen?” he asks.

I try to make it sound cooler than just stepping on it.

“I was playing star wars with my cat, Fuzzy, and he chased me around for a whole 30 minutes when finally, I took a nap.  Then, a duck flew out of nowhere and threw this nail at me.  He missed, but I stepped back and it went into my foot.”

The nurse laughs more, but I start to cry.  It’s only getting worse.

“Okay, well, I’m going to get tetanus shot and you stay here.”

About twenty minutes later, my foot was numb and bandaged up.  I drove home and lounged on the couch for a bit.  I let out a sigh of relief that they didn’t cut my foot off.  I hobbled up the stairs and started to pack my bags.  My mom called and asked if my foot was okay.  I said I would be fine.  I continued to pack.  I packed my green sprite shirt, my university clothes, my shorts, my sweatshirts.  They were all my favorite things.  “I’m ready,” I thought to myself.

Sunday came soon enough.  I woke up at 6:30, brushed my teeth, brushed my long blonde hair, put my pink sweatshirt from Hollister, my black yoga leggings from Aerie, I packed my makeup and hair stuff.  I hopped in my car and drove to my mom’s house first.  My flight was at nine.  I said goodbye to my mom, and she hugged me tight, handing my tickets to me.  I stepped out of the house and got in my car.  I looked more closely at my mom; I could see her eyes tearing up.  I rolled down my window and screamed, “I’ll be okay.”