Changes (Luke Hemmings)

~ Chapter 1 ~

I pulled my coat tighter around my body as I walked to my car. The wind was fighting against me and it was bitterly cold. I squinted to shield my eyes from the wind and hurried forward, opening the door and sitting in the driver's seat.

It wasn't even dawn yet (shorter days is one of my least favourite features of winter, besides the cold). This winter had been especially hard for me and I hadn't seen my friends or family in so long... I had no motivation to do anything.

Sitting there, instead of driving off, I just thought. At only 22 I'd already fallen into a job I hated, barely had any time for socialising and had no relationship to speak of.

Pretty bleak to think about before the sun has even risen.

I buckled up and slowly pulled out of my driveway.

At work it was a long, stressful day. I had to put in some extra hours to try a clear an important task I'd somehow forgotten about.

By the time I left work all light had faded. I was shattered and ready to just go home and sleep.

I slumped into my car once again and set off home... Ready to start the thrilling cycle all over again tomorrow.

The drive home felt especially long. My eyes began to feel heavy and occasionally droop. I could feel myself drifting off and was trying to battle against myself to stay awake.

In an attempt to keep myself conscious, I reached for the controls and turned on the radio. An old but familiar tune began to play and I smiled a little, while humming to the guitar plucking. I hadn't heard amnesia for years and was surprised to hear it on this station.

I had a soft spot for 4 seconds of summer. I went to school with three of them. I didn't know them well but I'm still proud. They always seemed pretty nice guys but I guess we just ran in different circles.

The chorus starts and I sing along.

"I remeber the day you told me you were leaving. I remember the makeup running down your face." I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the music "and the dreams you left behind, you didn't-" A car horn pierces through the sound of the music. My eyes spring open immediately but there was no time to react as a car crosses the junction, straight towards me. The dread of what was to come consumed me. The headlights of the car flooded my vision and, in a blur of white, before I could even register what was happening, I felt the crushing impact.

~ ~ ~

My eyes squint open. The sun was shining into my room but partially muted by the curtains. I quickly shut my eyes again, dozing back off to sleep.

The second time, my eyes manage to fully open and out of my sleepy daze I start to remember what happened last night... The crash. The blur of what happened was overwhelming. I focused all I could, trying to to decipher the chaos in my head.

How am I alive? Am I alive? I bolt up into a sitting position and pat myself down to check for injuries but find myself completely unharmed. My breathing quickens as the panic settles in and I realise that nothing made sense but it was far too realistic to be a dream.

What was equally concerning was how I'd found my way back to my parents house and was in my childhood bedroom.

I scrambled to find my phone but it was nowhere to be seen.

I heard a yell from downstairs, "Izzy, you'll be late for school. Hurry up!" There was no mistaking my mum's voice, it was her, but what she said made no sense. I ran downstairs as fast as I could, flustered and confused.

"Mum.... School? What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You aren't even dressed! This is ridiculous... You should've left by now!" The annoyance was clear in her voice which only sunk me deeper into confusion.