Overcoming The Past

Chapter 1: Remembering Tragedy

Camerella's POV:
I still remember that night as if it were yesterday. The day I lost everything. It was already bad enough that I lost my dad just eight months before, but this, this was my everything.
I was extremely close to my brother Jake. The kind of brother/sister relationship you would only dream of having. He protected me and guided me. He would be the father that I no longer had. Jake could tell me right from wrong.
At the time Jake was 17 and lived a perfect life. He was captain of the football team and had a girlfriend named Marisa.
That night, Jake was driving Marisa home from their romantic date to the fanciest restaurant in town. What he didn't realize is that Kamden Gillis my boyfriend at the time had just broke up with me. We had been fighting and he said he was done trying. He slammed the door and drove off.
Ten minutes later I get the horrifying call that tore my world to pieces. Jake and Kamden were both being life flighted. I dropped the phone, tears already hitting the ground. I grabbed a jacket and ran to my car.
As soon as I got there I frantically asked the nurse, " Where are Jake Hyers and Kamden Gillis?!"
She returned a gloom expression and pointed me down the hall.
I ran down the long narrow hall until I found both of them. The lie there lifeless and I stand helpless. Doctors surrounded them and nurses soon filled the room.
"Ma'am we're going to have to ask you to leave the room." One doctor stated.
A nurse lead me to a waiting room. I sat down and immediately stood up and grabbed the nurses arm to get her attention. "Please tell me there is something you can do?"
"We will do our best to save them. I can tell they mean a lot to you." She put her hand on my shoulder in an attempt to reassure me. Her attempt failed as tears began to stream down my face.
The room was quiet and only one other person was in the room. His name was Hunter Mallows and he was a year older than me. His eyes red from crying. I didn't know him that well. "Are you okay?" I ask trying to get my mind off of Jake and Kamden.
"No, my best friend Collin was shot by someone who robbed our house. He came over to play video games with me. And I might have gotten him killed by inviting him." His face covered by his hands.
"Don't think like that. At this point you have to be positive and stay strong. If not for yourself, for Collin. I know it may be hard to do but you have to keep it together." I say trying to comfort him.
"Thanks Camerella. What are you here for?" He asks.
I was hoping he wouldn't ask that because he reminded me of why I am here in the first place. "My brother Jake and Kamden got in a car accident. They aren't doing too good." I say starting to sob.
"Oh my gosh wow. I know Jake and Kamden. Good guys. I hope they are okay. Mayb-" He was cut of by a doctor approaching us.
"I have good news and bad news Camerella." He hesitated before he told me. "Kamden will be fine in time. However your brother will not. His injures are too severe. He has hours left. You may visit him."
My jaw dropped. Stunned, I looked at Hunter and said, "I can't believe this."
"I'm so sorry." That was all he could manage to whisper as he too was astonished.
"Good luck, I hope Collin heals." I said as I walked slowly out of the waiting room to see my brother for the final time. I walked into the room to see him lying there hooked up to so many machines. I saw his bright green eyes flutter open slightly dimmer than I remembered.
"I'm a little messed up." He laughed pitifully.
I manage to laugh a little as a tear runs down my cheek. "Yeah, just a little."
"Hey! What are you crying for? I'm not going anywhere." He says wiping the tears from my face.
"I know."
"Come here. I want to give you something."
He holds out a heart shaped locket necklace. I take the necklace and open the locket. On the left is a picture of my dad, and on the right is a picture of him. "It's beautiful Jake. Thank you so much." I go to hug him. He winces and then hugs me tightly. He kisses me on the cheek and I hold his hand tightly.
"I love you Camerella and always will. As your brother, I feel I have done all I can to help you. Now it's time for you to do everything I've taught you, on your own. I'll always be with you."
"I love you so much Jake. Thank you for being the best brother I could ever ask for. " As the last word came out of my mouth he looked me in the eyes, squeezed my hand and took his last breath.
I cried more than I had ever cried. I had to learn to live on my own now.