May 2.
It was a day just like any other day. Mom woke me up too early, knowing I'd keep asking for '5 more minutes', and I end up sleeping for 20. The scent of Dad's black coffee permeated into the air and wafted into my room through the vents.
Ugh.
I always hated that smell. It made me a bit nauseous.
Clear blue skies, warm weather with a light breeze ruined by another annoying school day.
"Hurry up Isa! You're going to be late again!" Mom yelled up at me as I quickly brushed my tangled, black hair. It was the same thing she screamed every school day, but I could feel her get a little more irritated each time she had to yell it.
Finally, I ran downstairs, my brown leather backpack slung over my shoulder and my hair pulled up lazily in a clip.
"You're not even going to have time to eat breakfast! Here. Eat this in between classes." Mom shoved a bag of grapes and cut up apple slices in my hand. As irritated as she was, she always took care of me.
I quickly tossed it in the small, outer pocket of my bag as we rushed out the door.
"Bye Dad!" I yelled with a wave as he sat at the kitchen table reading the newspaper and drinking his coffee. He didn't reply with words, only held up his mug in acknowledgement.
My school was old, and small, so the drop off line was always so chaotic. Mom parked the car by the street next to the cross walk to avoid the mess of people and vehicles.
"DON'T FORGET! I have a job interview today and I'm going to be a little late to pick you up. Don't panic, alright?"
I leaned in through the passenger side window after getting out of the car and held up my hand to give her an 'okay' signal.
"Don't worry. I have the world at my fingertips now, I probably won't even notice you're late." I could see the relief drain from her body at my reassurance and she smiled before waving.
"Alright, have a good day baby."
And with that, my mom drove off.
It was like. Any. Other. Day.
My stomach growled and I began walking towards the crosswalk as I pulled out the bag of fruit my mom gave me. I'd just eat it on the way there instead of waiting, I don't think I could go through first period on an empty stomach.
HONK! HONK! HONK
"HEY! LOOK OUT!"
I'm not sure what happened after that. It was like the sun turned off. All I could hear were screams and people asking, "Oh my god, are you okay?!"
Was it directed at me? No one else was answering.
I'm fine. My body just feels numb.
Actually, I wonder why that is? I can't feel the sun. I can't feel the wind.
I guess the sun really did get turned off…..maybe today…..just got…..turned off.
My eyes opened slowly and I suddenly wasn't at school anymore.
The room was bright and white, it hurt my eyes. I heard my mom scream and call my dad.
As my vision cleared, I saw tears streaming down her face and felt her hand brushing the top of my head in a soothing matter.
"What's going on?" I tried to ask, but nothing would come out. My lips wouldn't move.
A man in a white coat came in and began checking me over. A doctor? Was I in the hospital?
I couldn't feel anything, couldn't really hear what he was saying. It sounded like he was underwater.
All I could hear was my mom petting my head. Slowly, slowly, my body grew heavy, and I was enveloped my darkness.
"It's not looking too good...sustained…..injuries.....accident...miracle if she...survives….." As the darkness took hold of me, I could hear the doctor talking to my parents, my mom's anguished sobs, my dad's soothing words to her despite his voice cracking.
So, I was in an accident?
How could that be? I couldn't even feel it. I didn't even know it happened. How could I be in the hospital like this without even realizing it? I mean….wouldn't you feel it?!
Suddenly I felt scared. Mom. Mom, I'm scared.
I wanted to call out to her but I couldn't, all I could do was focus on the feeling of her hand petting my head, although it seemed to pull me deeper and deeper into the darkness.
My hearing faded in and out for, I don't know how long. I could hear my mom dad arguing over who would stay with me, that the other needed to go rest and shower. Sometimes mom would cry and dad would console her, and sometimes they sounded far away and gurgled.
Everything was so calm, but the world around me seemed to be in so much chaos. I don't remember when I woke up, or when they discharged me, but it felt like all the fear I had, all the darkness was a mile away.
I buckled into the back seat of the car with my parents. The car ride was silent, I still couldn't speak yet. My mom stifled back sobs so I kept rubbing her shoulder.
"It's okay mom! I'll be fine! So what if I can't talk! I'm still here, that's what's important!" I wanted to say that to her so bad.
We stopped at a fast-food place, and my parents got our usual order. I held my hand out for my mom to hand me a fry, but she didn't. I nudged her arm with my hand extended, but she didn't give it to me.
I huffed and leaned back, crossing my arms. I guess it was a bad idea for me to eat while we were driving anyways.
When we got home, I sat at the table and they served me in my usual spot, placing my food in front of me.
I picked up my burger and bit into it, a cringed look coming over my face. I pulled out a slimy, wet, pickle and flung it to the side of my plate. Yuck! I hate pickles in my burgers, especially these low-quality fast-food ones.
My mom suddenly burst into tears.
"I….I'm sorry….I didn't think…." My dad said quietly.
My mom shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. She slowly took a few of her fries and placed them on my plate.
I laughed and gave them the okay signal with my hand as I took a fry and plopped it into my mouth.
"It's no big deal, I can just take them out, relax!" I wanted to say, but they only continued to hold back tears.
I grabbed my phone and went to open up my Memo app. I'll write them a message and tell them it's okay, to please smile! What a good idea!
To my annoyance, my phone didn't turn on. I huffed in frustration. They must not've charged it while I was in the hospital.
Hm. Once I stopped to think about it, I shrugged it off. They had more concerning things to worry about, I shouldn't be upset with them.