Coffee Break || On Hold

Prologue

JULIE

2 years ago

"Julie, wake up," a familiar voice stuttered. Mom.

"Five more minutes," I said through yawns, pulling the covers over my head. I'd rather nap for the next century than deal with whatever this is.

"Please, Julie, it's an emergency," she sniffled. Mom's never been this civil when waking me up. She usually pulls the covers right off or opts for a splash of water in my face. Not that I blame her, I'm not the lightest sleeper.

I opened my eyes and my heart dropped as I took in the sight of my mom's puffy eyes, red nose, and tear-streaked face. Something was definitely up.

I scrambled to get up from bed, throwing my covers back as I hurried to hug my mom. I can feel my heart quench in concern as I automatically expect the worst. "Mom? Mom, what happened? What's wrong?"

I'm hoping Mom's just being her paranoid self, but a sinking feeling in my gut is telling me otherwise.

She replied with a louder sob, more tears streaming down her face as she slowly pulled away, but she finally managed to stutter out a reply. "It's- It's your dad. Adam and your dad."

No. No, no, no. This can't be happening right now. I'm growing impatient as all the scenarios of what could've happened run through my mom, and none of them end well."What about them?" My voice came out sharp and harsh.

She sobbed even harder and paced back and forth. Guilt wormed its way into my heart as I realized that my attitude is the last thing she needs right now. "What about them, Mom? Please tell me," I repeated in a softer tone.

My mom shook her head and continued sobbing, finding it way too difficult to utter the words that will confirm my suspicions. The words I'm dreading to hear.

I grabbed my phone to check the time.

10 minutes past 11 o'clock.

I ran out of my room and to the living room, my heart dropping further with every step. I hated that I had to leave my mother alone like that, but she wasn't in a state where she can explain things to me right now. And that's what I need, an explanation. So I'm going to get it.

Sure enough, two policemen were sitting on our couch, wearing shiny badges and grim frowns.

"You must be Julie, the daughter, correct?"

I nod hesitantly. The policeman was just about to open his mouth when I just cut to the chase. I couldn't be bothered with making small talk.  "What happened to them?"

The policeman's face dulls even more, and he sighs. "I'm sorry, but they're gone. They couldn't survive the impact of the crash, and-"

I'm sorry, but they're gone.

And with those five words, my heart went cold. With those five words, whatever hope I had left disappeared completely, leaving me with the numbness of my brain.

I tuned out, putting my hands to my ears and running straight to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I sat on the edge of the bathtub, trying to find a way to comprehend everything.

To comprehend how this could happen so suddenly. To comprehend that I was now an orphan, and an only child. To comprehend how Adam won't be there to annoy me and then hug me afterwards. To comprehend how I'll never hear my father's laugh again. To comprehend how they were dead. To comprehend how I wasn't dehydrated yet from how many tears kept falling.

I'll be back by 10, I promise.

My dad broke a promise. I guess there's a first to everything.