*** Before ***
It's been four weeks since Nana died. She didn't make it.
Hearing the news shattered our hearts. The neighborhood offered their condolences, delivering casseroles and sharing in our grief. My mom was a shadow of herself, her eyes dull and lifeless. Even though Nana wasn't her biological mother, she had raised my mom after her own parents abandoned her. Nana had scooped her up during her darkest moments and loved her fiercely. My mom wasn't ready to let her go. It didn't feel right. Nana was supposed to be there, always.
As much as I tried to be strong for my mom, the truth was that I wasn't ready either. I thought of all our Christmas tree-hunting traditions, how we'd go to the old Christmas tree farm every year, picking out the perfect tree on December 15th. We'd decorate it, bake cookies, and laugh until our stomachs hurt. But now, all that was left were memories haunting the empty spaces in our home.
"Pack it all up," Dad said one evening, his voice breaking the silence as he folded clothes and stuffed them into a suitcase. "We need to leave this town."
"Why?" I asked, my heart racing. "Can't we just stay a little longer? We just lost Nana!"
"It's Trevor's fault," Dad said, his jaw tightening. "She died because of him. We're not safe here."
Mom's face fell as she helped him pack. "I just hope none of us is the next target," she said quietly, glancing out the window as if the world outside was conspiring against us.
I felt a swell of panic rise in my chest. Moving to Iowa? I didn't want to leave. I would miss my friends, our home, and especially Nana. Leaving felt like losing her all over again.
"Are your things packed, Felicity?" Dad asked, looking up from his work. I nodded, not sure what to say. He glanced at my mom, whose brow was furrowed with worry, then walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Calm down. I'm here, okay?"
Mom nodded, taking a deep breath as he kissed her cheek. "And don't forget to check for any important documents," he added before she left the room.
"Hailey, are you leaving?" Ethan's voice broke through my thoughts as he walked into the room, clutching the teddy bear I had won for him at the arcade when I was eight.
"Ethan, I told you not to come up while they're packing," his mom, Martha, said, rushing up the stairs after him.
"It's alright, Martha," Dad said, still focused on our luggage. "We can manage."
I followed Ethan downstairs, grabbing an apple from the kitchen before stepping outside for some fresh air. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood, but it did little to lift the heaviness in my heart.
"I can't believe you're leaving," he said suddenly, making me stop in my tracks. I looked at him, my eyes brimming with tears. "I'm going to miss you so much."
We hugged tightly, and I let the tears spill onto his shoulder. In that moment, wrapped in his warmth, everything felt a little safer, like time had paused just for us.
"I'm going to miss you too," I said, wiping my eyes. I offered him a weak smile, and he returned it, though his eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"I promise to follow you wherever you go," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I'll be there for you. I know you're not safe hereâI've heard things. Don't ask me why." He tried to lighten the mood, making me chuckle despite the weight of our situation.
I glanced down at the teddy bear in his grip. It reminded me of the day we'd spent at the arcade, both of us competing for prizes. I had wasted so many coins on the claw machine, trying to win a stuffed toy. I remembered Ethan bumping the machine just right until the bear fell, us laughing hysterically as we made our escape with our prize in hand.
"I'm going to be your hero," he declared, puffing out his chest. "Not because you need me, but because I want to."
"Ethan! Hailey! Get back inside; dinner's ready!" our moms shouted from the house, pulling us back to reality. We exchanged a last glance, and I felt a flicker of warmth in my chest as we raced back inside.
***
At around 2:30 a.m., my parents woke me up, our luggage already packed in the car. They exchanged quiet goodbyes with Martha, while I said my own to Ethan. I hugged him tightly, leaning in to give him a peck on the cheek. His smile lit up the dim light of the porch, but it also made my heart ache.
"I'm going to miss you. I'll get in touch soon," he said, holding me close for a moment longer.
"Safe trip, you guys," Martha said, hugging my parents before stepping back to watch us leave.
"Let's go!" Dad called from the car, his voice urgent. I looked back at Ethan one last time, waving as I hopped into the backseat.
"Bye," I said, and just as I was about to close the door, I felt his arms wrap around my waist from behind.
"I miss you already," he whispered, just inches from my face.
Dad drove for three hours straight before pulling over at a gas station to refuel the car. He hopped out to fill up the tank and grab snacks for the road, while I stayed in the car, my mind racing with thoughts of everything we were leaving behind.
Once I finished in the restroom, I walked back outside, spotting a black car pulling up to the gas station. Something about it sent a chill down my spine, but I shrugged it off, eager to return to the safety of our car.
I climbed back in, rummaging through my backpack for my iPod and earphones to distract myself. I plugged in my earphones just as I heard a loud bang echoing from inside the store. My heart dropped as I yanked out the earbuds.
"Mom!" I yelled, panic coursing through me as I saw her dash out of the car and into the store where Dad was. I quickly followed, my legs moving before I could think.
Inside, chaos erupted. My mom was on the floor, cradling Dad, who was bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound in his side. "Leave, now!" he gasped, blood trickling from his mouth as he coughed. "Keep Hailey safe." His eyes were glazed, struggling to stay open.
"No, no, no, Arthur! You're going to be okay. I called an ambulance!" Mom cried, her voice breaking as she held him close, one arm slick with blood. "I love you."
Dad coughed again, and I could feel the walls closing in around me. A figure approached, a man in a black suit, and Dad's expression shifted to one of pure terror. "Go!" he shouted again, but it was too late.
I froze as I watched my mom scramble to her feet, grabbing my arm. "I love you too!" she screamed, and then the world exploded into chaos again.
I watched in horror as the man shot my dad once more, his body slumping against the floor, lifeless. My mom yanked me out of the store, and we sprinted back to the car, her face pale with fear and grief. She fumbled with the keys, finally starting the engine and speeding down the highway, tears streaming down her cheeks.
I sat in the back, unable to comprehend what had just happened. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I realized I had lost my father, my protector, the man who always assured me everything would be okay. Despite everything, I loved him. I accepted his flaws, his lies, knowing he had done everything to keep us safe.
As my mom drove, I could see her struggling to focus through her tears, her hands trembling on the wheel. She finally pulled over to the side of the road, resting her forehead against the steering wheel as the sobs wracked her body. I reached over and wrapped my arms around her, our grief intertwining as we cried together.
"We need to learn how to survive on our own now," she said, wiping her eyes, but the pain in her gaze cut deeper than any words could express. "We have to be strong for him. We need to do everything we can."
I felt a heaviness settle in my chest as I nodded, my eyes still wet with tears. "I don't want to lose you too," I whispered. I was scaredâscared of what lay ahead without my dad, without the safety and comfort of our home.
"We won't lose each other," she promised, her voice trembling. "We have to hold on."
I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gripped my heart. The world felt like it was unraveling, and the only thing left was the uncertain road ahead. We had to be strong. For each other. For Dad.
But all I could think was that I didn't want to lose anyone else.
***
Hello! I think it has been 2 weeks since I updated. But hey, here it is. What do you guys think?
Thank you guys for the 1k votes, it overwhelms me so much and it makes me happy that you like reading my story. Also, thank you for the 30K reads, it means so much to me. It means the whole damn world to me so thank you.
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Happy Holidays. As always, Carry on and Happy Reading!~
-The Author