Excerpt

15 Years Ago

It was supposed to be a typical day for her as her parents picked her up from her friends’ house to celebrate her 15th birthday. They were having fun at the restaurant where her Father had made a reservation for the celebration.
Before they left the restaurant, Belle’s Mother gave her a small box.
“What is it, Mom?”
“A small present for you. I can’t believe my little girl is fifteen. Without notice, you would get to university and then get married.”
Belle giggled at her Mother’s words.
“Mom, you are jumping above the head. Let me enjoy my teenage years first. Right, Dad?”
“That’s right, sweety. Did you enjoy today with us?”
“I had so much fun. I love you, Mom and Dad.”
“We love you too, sweety.”
They got to the car and drove back to their house, to be able continue with their lives. As they were half way home, Belle was about to open the small box that her Mom gave her as a present. When a sound of twisted metal and shattering glass pierced the silent night. Isabelle Moyer felt a sharp pain rip through her body as the car tumbled off the road. Time seemed to move slowly. She heard her mother scream for her daughter and their lives before there was a sickening crunch of impact. They had veered straight into an enormous oak tree.
Isabelle blinked, her vision blurred. As the dust settled, the mere act of breathing caused agony. She could recognize her father’s silhouette in the driver’s seat, motionless.
“Mom…”
Isabelle whimpered toward the body of her Mother, who lay beside her Father. She could feel life draining from her body. This was it. Fifteen short years of existence, over in an instant.
As her eyes fluttered shut, Isabelle had visions of her parents. Her brilliant, loving mother had nurtured her creativity. Her brave Father had lifted her onto his shoulders and would show her the Police station he was proud to call his second family. There was much more she wanted to experience with them.
Suddenly, Isabelle was stirred back to consciousness by the faint sound of sirens. Help was coming. She tried to call out, but only a faint whimper came from her lips. The darkness was closing in again.
Before losing consciousness, Isabelle heard the screech of tires on gravel, followed by car doors slamming. Voices yelled out commands. In the distance, Isabelle heard the voice of her godfather, Sean, the Fire Chief of Burmeel Fire Station. He would allow her to visit the station occasionally after school and show her around.
“Isabelle! My God…”
Sean cried. Isabelle felt a paramedic’s hands on her, assessing the damage. The jaws of life whirred, tearing away at the crumpled frame of the car. Isabelle wanted to scream in pain but could not find her voice.
“Please…. please save my goddaughter,”
Isabelle heard Sean’s plea. Isabelle barely clung to life. She felt herself being moved, the cool night air suddenly sweeping over her. The paramedics put her on a stretcher and rushed towards an ambulance that waited for her. Its lights flashed red and white against the dark sky.
Before they loaded her, a young firefighter appeared above her.
“You’re going to make it, kiddo. You’re a fighter.”
The young firefighter said. She recognized him as Alex, Sean’s 18-year-old son and the one boy she had ever had a crush on. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Alex…”
Isabelle whispered before the doors closed. The ambulance sped off, sirens blared across town.
With every bump on the road, agonizing pain radiated through Isabelle’s limp body. But she repeated Alex’s words: ‘You’re a fighter.’
At the hospital, Isabelle faded in and out of consciousness. She caught bits and pieces of conversations between doctors and nurses.
“Severe internal injuries…significant blood loss…prep the OR stat!”

Before she was rolled into the OR, Isabelle heard Sean’s voice in the hall, speaking with a doctor.
“Please, you have to save her. My best friends, her parents…they’re gone. I promised I would take care of her if anything happened.”
Isabelle wanted to scream at Sean. But she felt herself being wheeled away, lights flashing above her as they rushed towards the operating room. This was it. As she looked up at the surgical lamps, Isabelle wondered if she would ever gaze upon the sun again.

As the anesthesiologist placed the mask over Isabelle’s face, the world slipped away. Isabelle gave herself over to the darkness, shots of pain still coursing through her limp body.
Hours later, Isabelle awoke in the ICU, stitches crisscrossing her body. The steady beep of monitors filled the room. She was alive but changed forever.
Sean sat at her bedside, his weathered face weary with grief.
“My dear girl, you’re awake.”
He said gently, taking her hand.
“Mom…Dad…”
Isabelle whispered hoarsely. Sean just shook his head, a tear rolling down his cheek. Isabelle closed her eyes as the painful reality set in. She would never again hear her mother’s musical laugh or see her father’s bright smile that lit up his hazel eyes.

Over the next few days, Isabelle’s room overflowed with flowers and cards wishing her well. Alex, the young firefighter, stopped by often after his shifts.
“That was a real close call. We didn’t think we’d get you out in time, but you made it. You’re one tough kid.”
Alex’s encouragement gave Isabelle hope during those dark, grueling days. After spending four months at the hospital, the doctors said she was stable enough to go home with Sean. But nothing would ever be the same.
The months that followed were filled with challenges for Isabelle. She underwent intense physiotherapy to regain mobility. Though her wounds slowly healed, the emotional scars ran deep.
Sean provided everything Isabelle needed, but the emptiness left by her parents could not be replaced. She missed their laughter, warmth, unconditional pride, and belief in her.

One Year Later

On the anniversary of the accident, Sean drove Isabelle to her parents’ grave. All the way to the graveyard, Isabelle kept thinking about the road she went through after losing her parents that day. Upon arriving, they walked through the graves, in search of her parents’ grave. When they found it, Sean knelt in the damp grass, and Isabelle placed the flowers.
“Your daughter is going to make you proud, I’m going to live my life to the fullest for you.”
She whispered toward their grave. Isabelle stood up with steely determination. ‘Alex was right’, she thought. ‘I’m a fighter’. She would carry on her parent’s legacy and passion for life.
As the years passed, Isabelle immersed herself in school, vowing to live life fully. Sean and his family supported her dreams, encouraging her creativity and intellect. Though she still felt the ache of loss, Isabelle found joy in pursuing her goals.
On graduation day, Isabelle gave Sean a long hug.
“I never could have done this without you.”
“You did this. You took the worst day of your life and turned it into strength.”
Isabelle was grateful to this man who had selflessly stepped in during her darkest hours. Thanks to Sean and Alex, she survived. Now, her life lay ahead, full of possibility. She was ready to embrace it with open arms.