Death Becomes Her

Prologue

                “Hi honey,” Cinema’s mom says, hugging her only daughter tightly to her.  Emma hugs her mother back, smiling into her shoulder, burying her head into the dark brown hair they both shared.

                “Hey, where’s dad?” she asks, her dark grey eyes closing as she inhales her mother’s soothing cinnamon scent. 

                “Oh, he just got caught up at work, but he’ll be here soon,” she says making Emma nod. 

                “Alright, can we go to that antique store across the street while we wait?” Emma asks hopeful that her mother will agree.

                “Why not?” making Emma smile grow.

                “Come on then!” Emma says, grabbing her mother’s arm with a giggle, yanking her towards the stoplight.

                “So how was school?” Maria Parker asks, getting a groan out of Emma.

                “Terrible, I can’t wait to graduate already!” she says making her mother burst into laughter.

                “Only three more months,” she points out making her daughter smile.

                “And then I get to spend another eight getting my PhD in history.”  Emma frowns at the idea.  It’s not that she doesn’t like school, it’s alright.  It just seems like a waste of time.  Since the death of her cousin, Emma has learned to appreciate every second.  Marcus's death hit her especially hard.  He was her best friend, practically a brother.

                Cinema lets out a depressed sigh, shaking herself out of her memories.  “You alright honey?” her mom asks worriedly, rubbing Emma’s arm.

                “Yeah I’m perfectly fine.” 

                “Where is that stupid lighter?” Mr. Mark Parker curses under his breath.  He’s already late for dinner with his family, and now he can’t find his-oh there it is.  He sighs in relief, closing his eyes and striking the lighter to the cigarette, letting out a puff of content smoke.

                A honk and screams pull him out of his thoughts, and he looks up to see the shocked faces of his family before his company car rams into them.