A brunette woman in her mid twenties sat gazing at the July night sky; the full moon's glow cast an eerie light all around her. A warm breeze caressed her cheek and a smile slowly spread across her face. Never before had she seen a night as serene and exquisite as this. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes, and listened to the crickets hum their faint song .
"Libby. Hello…earth to Libby." A sharp finger jabbed the young woman, only to be batted away. The finger poked again, more forcefully, causing the brunette to yelp in pain.
Libby groaned and leapt from her chair, intending to reprimand the pest. But meeting her sister's hazel eyes with her own dark brown, she sighed. She was unable to roar at her younger sibling for her impatience.
"Holly, honey," Libby said sweetly. "Did anyone ever tell you it's not polite to poke people?" Her sister shook her head. "Well, it is. And while you're learning new things, you should also know that patience is a virtue."
"Yes, yes, whatever." Holly's small hand clasped Libby's and the younger girl dragged her sister toward the family car. "We're going to be late for the movie. Now, in the car!" Holly opened the door and shoved Libby inside.
Libby obediently took a seat, closing the door behind her. She idly imagined the great commander Holly would eventually become, and had to hide her grin as her sister slid into the car next to her. Bossing around taller, stronger, and older individuals was classic Holly. Of course, military attitudes ran in the Pierce's blood. Every one of Libby's family members was somehow connected to the armed forces, including her. She had just become one of the youngest Captains in the Air Force.
The girls' parents soon joined them in the luxury sedan, beginning their weekly trip to the theatre. While Mom and Dad listened to NPR in the front, the two sister's engaged in a fierce thumb war in the backseat, per Holly's request. It was times like these Libby's family seemed almost perfect.
Libby glanced up to find her sister intensely focused, determined to win, and she beamed inwardly. She immediately paid for this moment of inattention, however. The older girl growled in frustration and squirmed in her seat in a vain attempt to regain her pinned thumb; a bright light caught her eye. She looked out the side window just in time to see a large semi-truck barreling towards their car, and in the split second before impact thoughts flashed her mind. Mom. Dad. This can't be happening. Holly. Oh my god, Holly. She grabbed for her sister but was hurtled forward. With the sound of screeching tires and glass shattering, everything went black.