Red Dahlia

Chapter 19: The accident

Sup people.

Qotd: Baby, you are the strongest flower that ever grew. Remember that when the weather changes.
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A long time ago, the Harringtons lived a happy life in the town of Bravetown. Andrew Harrington, his wife Hermione Harrington and their amazing twins. Kaylee and Tobias Harrington.

The twins had recently turned 15. The Harringtons household held a party inviting their children's friends and close relatives.

Tobias was always into cars and wanted to drive one. Andrew had promised him to teach him how to drive after he was 15.

***

It was a week after my 15th birthday, dad took out his sky-blue Hyundai Sonata from the garage into the driveway.

"Alright Tobias, now get in the driver's seat." He told me as he got out and made his way to the passenger's seat.

He told me about the clutch, the accelerator and the brake. The clutch is in the far left used when shifting between gears. The functions of the gas pedal and brake were very clear to me.

Although I had watched both mom and dad drive, the switching gear part was still unclear.

It's my first drive, what could possibly go wrong?

That's what my mistake, I didn't know that everything will turn out to be wrong. In this world full of wrong, even the right thing seems wrong.

As they say; everything happens for a reason. Although for this, I couldn't find the reason but the result was my life being miserable.

We were driving around the neighboring block when I started to speed up as I thought that I got the hang of driving.

Driving beside my role model gave me a new found confidence. He kept on chuckling at my childish behavior as he advised me to slow down.

In a blink of the eye, there was another car coming in full speed towards us. I panicked.

"TOBIAS, HIT THE BRAKES!" He screamed.

In panic, I accidentally slammed my foot on the gas pedal resulting in the car to move forward in full speed.

Dad grabbed the wheel and steered the car towards the right. Tires screeched. Our car tumbled and rolled as the other car slammed into us.

The airbags burst out and my head banged on the window due to its impact. The windows broke, the windshield shattered. Everything was in slow motion.

Our soft grunts, the pieces of glass in my mouth, the taste of blood, the gash on my arm. My screams, the car siren.

***

"Tobias," I gained conscious. My eyes adjusting to the environment. I looked around to see my father frantically looking at me.

"Tobias get out of the car now." I couldn't comprehend what's going on.

I moved my eyes around as they settled on a very unpleasant sight. My father's leg was mixed with the door. It was half metal and half flesh.

The smell of gas leaking was strong enough to make my father panic. He knew that the paramedics won't make it in time and that I needed get out of the car.

"Tobias get out now!" He ordered.

"I am not leaving you alone." I shouted back.

"Tobias, go. Now!" His voice held urgency.

"No." Was all I shouted.

"Tobias, look at me. You need to get out now! Remember I love you and none of this is your fault. Ok?" He caressed my cheek gently although I could see pain through the unshed tears.

He kissed my forehead and pushed me out of the now wrecked car. I landed on the concrete scraping my hands and knees.

I screamed for help. The car burst into flames and lunged towards it. A pair of strong arms held me in place while I wailed.

Sirens were blaring but no one helped him.

No one helped my father, he burned with the car. His last words were still clear to me.

I prayed to God, I prayed that may this all be just a nightmare and nothing else. That my dad will caress my cheek when I wake up, that he'll hug me and tell me that it's okay, that it was just a nightmare, that he is there with me.

Sadly, life doesn't work the way you want it to.

I had gained conscious in a hospital where IV tubes were attached to me. My mother was seated on the chair besides my bed, silently sobbing. My twin, Kaylee held my hand tightly and gently kissed it.

I gently squeezed it back letting her know that I'm awake. Their attentions diverted towards me and it made me further more insecure.

"Where's dad?" Was the first thing I asked, I didn't even ask that how long have I been admitted.

They both looked at me with pity and said the words that I dreaded to hear.

"He's gone

He's not with us anymore.

He's in a much better place now."

I couldn't believe any of it. It's my fault that he died. I should've been the one to die not him. Mom needs him, Kaylee needs him. Me, I am just another useless child that killed his own father.

No matter how hard everyone tried to stop me from blaming myself, I couldn't stop because it was all my fault. Had I never asked him to let me drive, none of this would've happen.

***

It's been almost a week. My routine consists of laying on my bed isolated from the rest of the family. Kaylee had tried so much to get me to come out of my room but failed every time.

I hadn't even eaten anything. What's the use of eating when I couldn't even save my own father?

I hadn't slept in days because as soon as I close my eyes, I escape from this harsh reality to a world where my father is alive and going through further misery and torture.

My body desperately needs sleep, but I don't want to sleep.

Dreams are an escape from this world. And in my dreams, my father has to suffer and I can't watch him suffer.

I started taking pills that keep me awake until this one day when my body needed sleep and I collapsed.

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Hi guys. Sorry for the late update. School has started and has got me veryyy busy. Wouldn't even have updated if not for the threats by someone *cough* Haniya2003 *cough*

Do tell your thoughts on this chapter. Until next time, till then:

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