Behind The Hoodie

Sneak Peek!!!!

Hi. So this is just a sneak peek to what the prologue will be in the published version of this book. :)

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Mrs. Jones watched her young daughter play out on the golden sand by the ocean as the sun was setting. She was trying to catch a white butterfly that would only ever come out in the blazing summer.

The dust had floated around Mrs. Jones, reflecting off the sun as she folded her arms with a somber look. Her husband had placed his calloused hand on her bare shoulder, her shawl had slid its way down her arms, so that her hands were the only thing holding the sleeves up, causing her to flinch and look back toward him. But he could only return the same blue smile.

"She'll be okay. She'll be safe," her husband assured her before looking out the open back glass door to see their daughter playing in the waves.

Her white sundress and floppy blonde hat that matched her golden hair blew in the coastal wind. The freezing ocean water she had become numb to, soaked the hem of her dress, making it stick to her sides.

She had left her sandals on the shore just to feel the sand that still held the sun's warmth it had left, behind between her toes. She knew that they ought to go home soon and get ready for school next year but the waves lapping at the shore and washing over her feet calmed her. She didn't want to leave.

"I know she will be," Mrs. Jones said with a heavy sigh that caused goosebumps to cover the smooth skin on her arms, tears brimming her eyelids but she kept them from escaping. This decision was made long ago, Mrs. Jones had cried all the tears she could afford to over the matter.

"It's just, new. We'll adjust. We'll make it work."

She nodded her head understandingly but that didn't change how she felt for her daughter. The love she had for her. Or the beautiful memories they shared.

"Is the car ready," Mrs. Jones had asked in a low, hushed tone. At first, she was wondering if her husband had even heard her over the wind and soft crash of waves in the distance.

"Yes," he finally said in a soft yet definite tone.

Mrs. Jones nodded her head once again. "Beth! Time to go," she shouted to her daughter.

Her daughter looks back to her with a sad and pouting look, earning a motion from her mom to hurry. Which only caused her to smile lightly in return. She picked up her sandals and held onto her hat as she ran barefoot to the wooden porch facing the beach and to her mom standing with a smile on her face. She was about to run past her mom before she places an arm in front of her.

"Hey," she said before signing 'I love you' to her.

"Love you too," Beth told her before taking off.

As long as she could remember, she and her mom would use sign language to talk whenever they wanted or when they were supposed to be quiet like at a wedding or in a library. It was their special thing.

Later that night Beth and her parents were in the car. Driving home. It was so peaceful leading up to the inevitable. Beth was half awake in her p.j.'s with a warm blanket. Soft music was playing. The night wind was blowing past her closed window. Even stars and a full moon in the sky. Her parents were holding hands.

Beth remembered how the waves crashed forward as if they were reaching for her. Lapping at the shore only to retreat. She thought back to the sun and how just it's light had warmed her soft skin. Skin that held not a single scar, unlike her mom's. Her mom's held so many scars. So many stories.

Then they came to a railroad. The car had stopped on the tracks. Beth was too tired to think. Too young to know. Her mom and dad looked at each other. She hears a loud horn. Yellow lights flash, illuminating the night around their car. Her eyes shut off and on, every second passing slowly, painfully. The horn sounds louder, closer, a brighter light shining into her face.

Instantaneously she was flying, weightless, now very awake, and her screams pierced the air. She was no longer in the car but now on the ground, soft wet grass soaking her clothes. She faded in and out of consciousness like it was all a dream.

Then reality hit. Hard. Next thing Beth had known was a pain. Sharp pain in her head, and shoulder. Bright red and blue lights. When did that happen? It was so cold. She couldn't move but if she could, you would see a visible shiver break through her tiny, bloodied, body. You would see how in pain she was when she did shiver. As if blinking could bring pain to her entire body. She felt a wet sappy feeling on her clothes that stuck to her body as if she stood in the rain.

A soft mask was placed over her mouth and nose and bright lights were in her eyes in seconds. Mumbled talking and conversation filled her ears but the ringing and thoughts that plagued her helped to make her forget about that. And when she finally let her head fall to the side, she saw her parents. They were covered in a bright yellow blanket that stood out against all the darkness of the night.

Why did they get blankets and she didn't, she had wondered. To keep them warm she thought but she was cold too. She wondered if these people would give her a blanket as well since it was such a frigid night.

She knew who was here. She knew what had happened. She knew what paramedics were even if she had trouble saying the word itself. She knew they'd crashed. But she had no clue what those bright yellow things around her parent's bodies were. They never taught her that.

But her eyes began to close on her. She was tired. The pain she felt before had melted like a popsicle on a summer day leaving only a dull throb in its wake. Suddenly everything went black despite trying to move a finger to keep herself awake, unconsciousness washed over her.