A/N: This story is dedicated to my wonderful friend Nikki. She was killed by a drunk driver on Christmas, and I have been distraught. Ramblings from grief-fueled insomnia bout and writing seemed to help so here it is. I wrote the first three chapters will try to pull them together. If no one is interested after the three are posted, I won't continue. Thanks for reading!

MERCEDES

Baffled was the only way to describe her current state. Another of her patients had died today, and she was seriously considering a career change. Being a Geriatric nurse was some kind of torture. Sometimes she felt the Joy certainly outweighed the inevitable gloom associated with her job choice and other times not so much. As a teen, it sounded like the perfect way to give back to society; helping elderly people like her grandmother who raised her was satisfying, but now it had become overwhelming. Every time a patient died, it brought all of these memories flooding back.

She entered the hospital garage bidding the security guard Anthony good night. Most nights they would share friendly, flirtatious banter but tonight she was in no mood. She was focused on getting home and into her bathtub for a long soak. Her short legs took quick strides covering the distance to her vehicle. She unlocked the door throwing her things in the passenger seat before taking a deep breath and starting the ignition. About 10 minutes into her 30-minute drive home, she decided some music is what she needed to lift her spirits. She reached for her iPhone 6 swiped the screen and tapped her music app. Uptown funk blasted through her stereo, and then it happened.

The sirens swarmed around them growing louder as they traveled closer. She lifted her hand to feel her head and was met with warm liquid spilling down her face and onto her hands. Her vision was blurred making it difficult to read the lips of the man speaking to her. Her hearing was impaired, and she couldn't make sense of the muffled cries. Even though he was standing right next to her, he sounded far away. She struggled desperately trying to stay focused on his mouth to make out what the man was saying. Finally, the jumbled mess made sense.

"Ma'am, are you wounded? Can you hear me? Ma'am, what is your name?" The Paramedic asked.

She could hear the panic in the man's voice as he tried desperately to prompt her for the necessary information. She tried to speak but could only emit groans and moans. He pressed upon her for answers unrelenting in his pursuit. Why couldn't he see that she was trying? She wanted to tell him her name, to answer all of his questions, but her brain wouldn't allow it. She saw a flash of light flicker by and heard the jostling of the door. He yelled something to another officer, and he came over to him. Now that he was closer, she noticed it was a firefighter. He told him the door was stuck and they needed to cut it loose. It took them 4.5 minutes to pry the door open so that they could get her out. She knew because the officer said it. The paramedic rushed her onto the gurney, and that is when she saw him- A young boy sprawled out on a stretcher. He looked to be no older than 12 years old. There was a woman in her late-40s weeping beside him, a young girl who looked to be the same age as the boy and a man in his mid-20s. His green eyes glared at her, and that is when it happened. Everything faded to black. There was nothing around her. Nothing but darkness enveloped her, and that was the only thing she was sure of. The end had come, and there was nothing she could do about it. Nothing she could do to stop it.

MARY

She was resting with her feet up after working a double shift. Sam was stirring about the kitchen no doubt preparing dinner. He was always trying to relieve her burden. Listening to him hum while he chopped was soothing, and she found herself drifting slightly into a rest state. Hearing the loud beeps from the buttons on the oven jarred her awake so she decided to get up to help him.

Just as she made it to the kitchen, she caught sight of Sam looking out the front door. Hearing her footsteps nearing he looked back at her with irritated green eyes. His dark blonde locks were tousled, and he had food on his blue t-shirt. He turned screaming for the children to stop arguing and when they didn't, he went outside to chastise Stacey. Apparently, she had thrown Stevie's soccer ball into the street. It wasn't like Stacey to be so vindictive, and Sam sought to get to the bottom of it.

"What is your deal, Stacey?" He asked. "Why are you being so horrible towards your brother?"

She looked on as Stacey burst into tears. Her behavior had been odd as of late, and Mary didn't understand what was wrong with her. Now, she was suddenly angry with Stevie over a soccer game; it wasn't like her. She continued to watch as Stevie ran across the street to retrieve his ball. He bent between two large dumpsters, then without looking, he dashed into the street. In a fraction of a second, he was struck by the small SUV. A loud thump rang out followed by two softer thuds, screeching tires, and grinding metal. She froze in shock, for a moment, unable to believe what just transpired.

SAM

It was getting dark out yet Stevie and Stacey refused to come in. He had called to them more than once, and they had refused to listen. They were content playing soccer in the twilight and would not allow their mean older brother to ruin their fun. Even though it was late fall the weather was nice, and the pair wanted to enjoy it before the cold set in. Sam decided he would start dinner so that his mom didn't have to. She had worked a double shift at the nursing home and was worn from the grueling task of lifting elderly patients all day. He decided he would make her famous meatloaf with smashed potatoes and gravy. Knowing that she would contest if he did not include some veggies went back to the freezer pulling out some frozen green beans, carrots, and corn.

He measured out the milk and cracked the eggs before starting to dice the onions. Then he made his way over to the stove to preheat the oven to 350 degrees. He seasoned his grass-fed ground beef that he had gotten fresh from the butcher earlier that day before going making yet another trip to the front door peering out to look at his younger siblings. Stacey was smiling as she had just kicked the ball straight into the goal while Stevie pouted. She was one point away from winning the game and bragging rights having evened the score with her last shot. Each child was very competitive and wanted desperately to win. Stevie started to dribble the ball and Stacey stole it from him running down the imaginary field to kick straight into the goal. "Not fair you cheated," Stevie said.

"I didn't cheat take that back," she said shoving him.

"Did too! You are a cheater, and I'm telling everyone," Stevie yelled.

"Take that back you… ugh," she said before taking the ball and throwing it into the street. "Fetch you filthy dog! I hate you," Stacey said.

"You need to apol…," Sam said letting his voice fade. The words were stuck in his throat as they heard a loud cry followed by three thuds. It happened so fast that he missed everything except the black 2013 Toyota Rav 4 slamming into the light pole. He ran over to Stevie in what seemed like slow motion. Sam felt his heart racing as everything in his peripheral pulsed around him. "STEVIE!" He screamed. Only, nothing happened, Stevie didn't move or reply. He simply laid there on the cold ground unresponsive and no doubt gone from this world.