I got the idea for this one from... Um... Well I don't really know. I hope it's okay. It's written from the POV of several characters, but probably mostly through Kyle. Chapter one
It's basically about the pain and turmoil someone can go through when the lose a loved one.
I'd appreciate a review, if you have time.
But review or not, thanks for reading!
We were on our way to the store when it happened. Mom didn't trust me and Ike on our own any more since, the last time she had there an... interesting incident occurred involving a can of paint and the septic tank. It's wasn't even my idea!
"What did you do at school today, Kyle?" I was busy telling mom about the A+ I got on a maths test when a truck suddenly pulled out from behind and tried to overtake us on a busy freeway. Dad swore, something I had rarely heard him do before, and sped up, so the vehicle was forced to back into place behind us.
"Asshole" gurgled Ike. I giggled, but luckily for him mom hadn't heard him swear.
Everything seemed fine for a couple of minutes, but the truck driver was obviously in a hurry. He once again pulled out beside us. This time there was a car on the other side of the road that the other driver hadn't accounted for. He swerved into us, pushing us over and off the road. Dad fought to keep control of the car, but couldn't. It span, and rolled, once, twice, three times...
I could faintly hear Ike crying, screaming, before everything faded into black.
"Kyle? Kyle!" the voice was frantic. What had happened? My head felt as heavy as a lead weight, and it was pounding. My arm hurt, my ribs hurt. Everything hurt.
"Kyle! Wake up, please!" That's mom! I opened my eyes groggily. I could barely see mom, the roof of the car was so dented in. She looked pale and sick. I could only see dad's arm, mangled; but beside me, Ike seemed untouched. Looked untouched. Panic suddenly rose up inside my stomach like flames take to gasoline.
"Mom? Mom! Jesus Christ, what's happening?" she reached out weakly, trying to touch me, but she couldn't reach.
"Kyle, listen to me." I was barely listening for trying to squirm from my seat. "Kyle, listen!" her tone of voice made me jump. She had never screamed at me like that before. I stared at her, shaking in fear.
"Kyle, I need to you do something. I need you to take your brother and get out of the car. Don't worry about your father and me, just make sure you're both safe. Can you do that for me?" I nodded, to scared to speak.
"But... But how are you gonna get out?" Mom said nothing, and the sudden realisation hit me with the force of a brick. They weren't getting out. Seeing my hesitation, mom made one final effort, forcing her broken body to reach forward. She took my hand.
"Go, bubbah. Take care of your brother. Go, I love you." I nodded, tears trickling down my face. I pulled my silent, unconscious brother from his car seat, crying out in pain as the pressure on my broken arm caused a searing pain to shoot up my bone, but I managed to lug my baby brother out of the car anyway. I staggered away from the wreckage. It was badly smashed; the glass had shattered from the frame, and the sides were all dented.
'Dad's gonna be so pissed when he wakes up' was the last thought I had before I collapsed on the roadside.
***
"Can you open your eyes for me darlin'?" bright lights filled my vision field as I lifted my heavy eyelids, the sudden change of light levels making me squint. I wasn't in pain anymore. For a moment I believed I was dead, and the bright white light was heaven. A Nurse was standing over me, a false smile plastered over her face.
"Hey sweetie" she rested a gentle hand on my uninjured arm. "You're in Hell's Pass Hospital. Do you remember what happened?" I blinked a few times, confused, before the harsh cold reality hit me. Hard.
"Ike!" I gasped. "Where's Ike? I promised I'd take care of him!" I tried to sit down, but she gently pushed me back on the bed.
"Careful! You'll pop your stitches" she chided. "Your brother's okay. They're taking care of him in another ward okay?" I nodded, slowly.
"Wait, what stitches?" I asked. She carefully lifted my gown, and showed me the bandaged up wounds that the crash had caused. For a moment I just stared at them. Then a wide smile split over my face.
"Cool!" she laughed.
"Well, I suppose that's one way to look at it. My name's Nurse Jackson by the way. But you can call me Hope."
'Hope. What a good name for a nurse' I had thought. She had the same colour hair as mom and me, except she wore it in a long ponytail. Mom.
"Hope, where are my parents?" her expression fell, and she sat down on the side of my bed, taking my hand in hers. I looked up at her, expecting her to tell me that they'd come and see me soon. She didn't.
"Kyle, sweetie... Your parents both passed away from the car crash." I didn't cry. I didn't want to cry. I felt numb, as if part of me was missing. Part of me was missing.
"No." I was adamant. "You're wrong. You have to be wrong!" Nurse Jackson gave me a sympathetic smile. She asked if I needed anything. Silence.
***
Stan
I wanted to go to the hospital as soon as I'd found out, but mom said I had to wait for a couple of days. She said Kyle would be really upset that his parents had died, and he'd need space.
But after a couple of days of constant moaning, she finally took me to Hell's Pass. Room 187. I took my hat off, fiddling with it. I didn't know how nervous I'd be until I was there.
He was pale, so very pale. His red hair fell in curls about his shoulders, dramatically contrasting with his ghostly form. There were dark circles under his eyes and he was bruised around his jaw. His arm was in a cast. I stared at him, he stared at me. I didn't know what to say, so I just stood there like a total idiot until mom urged me forward.
"Uh... Hi Kyle" I mumbled. The corners of his mouth lifted in an attempt to smile, then turned away. I sat in the bedside chair and grasped his hand, while mom stepped out to talk to the Nurse. Neither of us said anything. We didn't have to.
***
Kyle
Nurse Jackson told me that I was going to stay with Stan when they let me go. I didn't say anything, and she sighed unhappily. I hadn't spoken to anyone other than my baby brother for almost week, the week after the accident, the week after I had found out. I still hadn't cried. I still didn't want to. I remember wondering if Ike was coming with us. He was in a bed next to mine, unaware of what had happened. They just told him that they were sleeping. He's a genius, but he's also ignorant. I envied him.
We were both sleeping on the morning we were both to be discharged, and were awoken by someone coming into our room. A woman with dark, carefully shaped eyebrows. She shook us both awake.
"Kyle? Say goodbye to your brother, Kyle." she told me. I was confused.
"Say goodbye? Why, where's he going?" the woman's grey eyes widened slightly.
"They didn't tell you? Social services is taking Ike to a new home for a while. What?
"But Ike has a home, he doesn't need a new..." I realised what was happening, and I did not like it.
"No! I won't let you!" I stumbled out of bed over to Ike, who hid behind me. The woman was obviously exasperated; she checked her watch and muttered something about not having time for this.
Hope hurried in at that moment.
"Kyle honey, I think we need to have a little talk" I glared at her, furious that they would have the nerve to do this to me.
"NO! I already know! How could you let them do this to me?" she took a couple of steps towards me, her hands outstretched. She was trying to calm me down.
"Now Kyle, it's going to-" I cut her off mid-sentence.
"You didn't tell me! How could you keep this from me?" Ike was digging his fingernails into my side, and he screamed when the woman from social services reached round to scoop him up. We clung to each other.
"Kyyyle!" he screeched. Hope put an arm around my waist, trying to pull me back, but I wriggled out of her grasp.
"Ike!" No! Please don't take him away from me! He's my only family!" the woman started to walk out of the room, and I ran after her, sobbing.
"NO! PLEASE!"
"KYLE!"
"IKE!" all of a sudden there were three pairs of arms around me at once. One was Hope's, the second a doctor's, and the third... Was Mrs. Marsh. I hadn't even notice them arrive. By the time I pulled away it was too late. They'd gone.
"Ike..." I whispered, before crumpling into her open arms.
"He's my only family..." I sobbed. She stroked my hair.
"I know baby, I know..."
That wasn't too shitty right? I hope not. I worked hard on it!
I'd really appreciate a review if you have time. Thanks for reading!