Angel

Death. You can't avoid it and you sure as hell can't hide from it. You can only pray it comes to get you fast. No pain. No suffering. Just death.

Time seemed to slow down as the car drove by the burning house. The fire seemed unaffected by the firefighters attempt to control it. Time seemed to stop as I starred out and saw the flames consume what once use to be my room. I couldn't cry, one could say I was still in shock. Instead I starred blankly out the window as an ambulance sped away. A small flicker of hope ran thru me. If they were rushing to the hospital, that meant whoever was in there was still alive, that was good. Wait, can two people go in one ambulance? I think it's possible, if it's an emergency and all. A loud crumbling noise was heard. I watched as the walls began to crumble. "Time to go," the cop mumbled and he drove off. We had just turned the corner when a loud explosion was heard. I looked over my shoulder in time to see a ball of fire rise to the sky. I felt my heart squeeze in pain, and then the tears came gushing out.

.One month later.

I sat in uncomfortable chair as I watched my mother's chest go up, and then down. It really was the only thing one could watch my mother do, since she was in a comma and all. I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand. "I got the call today," I mumbled. I stayed silent for a moment, as if she could reply. "Uncle Phillip is officially not my legal guardian, it's grandma and grandpa. They should be here in a few to take me with them," I said. I felt a tear trail down my cheek. I cleared my throat and continued, "They're working on getting you transferred to a hospital closer to them, but they don't want to move you just yet. So....so I won't be able to visit you anytime soon. I'm sorry, but they're taking me to some forsaken town 5 hours away."

"4 if there's no traffic," a voice said from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and watched as my grandmother walked in. "Your grandfather is in the car, we need to go," she said. I walked to my mom and kissed her forehead.

"I'll see you soon. Okay mom?" I said as I looked at her pale face and closed eyes,

"C'mon Angel," my grandmother said. My back stiffened at the sound of my old nickname.

"I go by Bella," I said and added, "it's my actual name." My grandmother eyed me.

"I believe Angel suits you best," she said with a strained smile. She walked over to my mother and patted her hand. "Goodbye dear," she said then walked to the door. I turned to my mom one last time. Trying to record her image in my memory. It wasn't the very best, but at least she was alive. "Let's go," my grandmother said. I picked up my duffle bag and followed my grandmother out. "What's that?" My grandmother asked as she poked on the dog tags that hung from my neck. I quickly grabbed on to them and pressed them into my chess.

"They....they belonged to my brother," I said as I felt a stab at my heart. My grandmother eyed me then continued walking. I glanced over my shoulder hoping for a miracle. Hoping my mother would wake up, walk through her room doors and tell me everything was going to be okay. I bit my lip and turned back around. We walked through the waiting room area. I looked up and a guy with slicked back blonde hair looked over to me. Our eyes locked and he gave me a small smile. I tried to smile back but looked away. At least someone was happy.

"Of course, the town is much more different from the city, but I think you'll adjust," my grandfather said as he drove. I was sitting in the back of his old car starring out the window watching as the outside scenery passed by.

"So how're you doing?" My grandmother asked. I wanted to scream, how the hell did she think I was doing?

"Okay," I managed to reply through my clenched teeth. I could feel her watching me, but I continued to glare out the window. Who asks that? Who asks a girl who watched her own house burn down with her brother inside burning up with it? Who asks that to someone who just said goodbye to their comatose mother? WHO? I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away.