bridges [h.s.]

𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕦𝕖

September 2004

The sky was a deep blue as we drove through the night. It was my favorite kind of night: dark, peaceful, and quiet. It was almost as if nothing could ever go wrong.

My whole family was out tonight, celebrating. My father had finally gotten the promotion he had been waiting for. We all went to the fancy, new italian restaurant, Miele. It means 'honey' in Italian. It was my favorite restaurant.

Our family has not been the most fortunate in financials, but we were content with what we had and we were more than happy with having each other. 

We zoomed down the highway, windows down and radio turned all the way up. I looked away from the window and towards my dad, he wasn't paying attention to the road. He was gazing at my mother for a few seconds before turning back to the road. 

They were so in love, I could only dream I could have what they have. My father's hand was resting on top of my mother's. Both hands were joined together on top of the gear shift. 

I turn my head some more and look at my brother and sister. Kai and Liliana were both twins that were two years older than me. I loved them so much. 

We were now about to cross the Cornroy Bridge. The bridge was a landmark in our town, I loved going on trails that would lead me under it to the pond. It was truly beautiful down there, like a whole new world. 

I felt on top of the world.

But that didn't last.

Screams filled my ears.

Gunshots were pounding against our car. 

I felt a sharp sting in my thigh, I looked down and saw blood seeping out of the fresh, new wound. But I didn't feel anything. 

My head shot up to see my family. Kai and Lili were no longer moving, they looked like they were sleeping. So did mom and dad. 

The windows shattered as more bullets plummeted towards us. 

Who would want to hurt us? Why? We didn't do anything wrong.

Since my father was no longer conscious, the car spun out of control. My entire body launched forward, only to be shot backwards from the seatbelt. I could tell we hit the side of the bridge.

Only problem here is, the railings were wood and didn't hold the car back from falling off.

Fifty feet.

Twenty feet.

Ten feet.

Five feet.

Darkness.