The Crash

It was finally the big day. Claire was in the room of the hotel, in the middle of getting her hair and make-up perfected. The butterflies in her stomach were churning. Only a couple of more hours until she will finally be Mrs Grady.

To say she never imagined ever settling down, she couldn't wait to marry Owen. Since the day she met him, her opinions on marriage and having a family had completely been turned upside down. Claire felt safe in his embrace, everything made sense. She was happy.
Karen was sat on the hotel bed watching her sister getting ready, she could literally see the happiness in her eyes reflecting in the mirror. Her own eyes beginning to well up at seeing Claire finally happy and getting her happy ending. All those conversations with Claire saying she couldn't see herself settling down as she wasn't loveable and only being career focused. Gone.
"Karen? Are you crying?" Claire noticed the tears in her sister's eyes through the mirror.
"I... I'm just so happy for you, Claire. All those years telling me you would never settle down, now look at you. You're glowing." Karen replied, trying her best not to start sobbing so she didn't ruin her already perfected make-up.
"Karen, please don't you'll set me off. And we know I'm not one for tears." She joked, as her own eyes now began to well up at the thought.
"I'm sorry, I'll go compose myself." Karen replied while getting up and headed off towards the bathroom.
"Okay, Claire you're all set. Just need to get you in your dress." Her make-up artist spoke.
Claire took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
"Okay, thank you, Zara." She smiled, walked towards her dress that was hung up by the window.
Claire got into her dress, with the help of Zara helping her zip her up, and sort out the loose hairs on her head.
She looked in the mirror once Zara had finished, as she saw her reflection, she couldn't help the shy smile on her face. The dress was beautiful, she looked like a princess.
Just then she heard the bathroom door open, and then a gasp.
"Oh, my goodness... Claire..." Karen couldn't speak but the tears began to make another appearance.
"I know" Claire replied.
"You look so beautiful, Claire!!" Her sister walked up to her and embraced her in a hug.
"Thank you, Karen."
There was a knock on their door and a masculine voice followed, letting them know the car was ready to head to the church.
"It's time. Are you ready, soon to be Mrs Grady?" Karen chuckled.
Claire took one last deep breath, smiled her biggest smile at her sister
"I'm so ready."

They were now in the car, not far now from the church. Karen and Claire having a conversation about their childhood, and about how proud and happy Karen was for her sister. When suddenly all they heard was a loud honking noise from in front of the car, then the next sound was the girls screaming as the car flipped and started soaring off the road and crashing into a tree on the side of the road. The driver had gone to swerve to dodge and animal that was in the road, he lost control which resulted him colliding with a barrier which caused the car to flip as it flew.
Claire's vision was blurry, the sounds around her was muffled. She couldn't move, the pain was unbearable, suddenly her vision started to go black after a few seconds and the last thing she saw was her sister attempting to unbuckle her seatbelt to assist Claire. The last thing she heard was Karen yelling at her to keep her eyes open, and that help was coming.

Owen was at home with his best man Barry getting into their tuxes and laughing and joking about sports and anything they could think of, just to keep Owen's nerves down.
"You ready, Owen? We need to leave for the church in five minutes, Claire should almost be ready and the wedding starts in half an hour."
"Yeah, dude. I'm ready." Owen replied. He took one last deep breath and then headed out to the car.
"Well, in a few hours you will be a married man, Owen. I just can't believe it man. I never pictured you to settle down for a few more years." Barry joked.
"Me neither man. But it's Claire... She's just perfect inside and out, I would do anything for her. I have honestly never felt like this with anyone else before. She is definitely the one I want to spend my life with."
"Wow Owen, Claire definitely has gotten to you, you've gone all soft on me. But I am so happy for you, and I'm so grateful that I get to be there by your side as your best man."
"I wouldn't want anyone else dude, thank you."
Owen and Barry arrived at the church five minutes later. They greeted the guests and spoke to family, and then Owen let them know Claire was on her way and that everyone should start to take their seats.