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The by standers watched helplessly as the large SUV smashed into the Honda Accord, wincing at the sound of breaking glass. Someone punched in the three number and sirens erupted around that section of town. A group of firemen pried open the driver's door, lifted the woman out into the dark night and passed her to a group of paramedics. The medics took her pulse, then set her on a stretcher and threw a white sheet over it. The firemen opened the door to the back seat and the by standers who were nearest to the car heard the soft snuffling of a child's tears. After a few seconds, loud wails could be heard above the chaos as the paramedics checked over the child. In the little girl's arms was clutched a round, plush, black bird with a tuft of orange hair on it's top. Her face was bright red and her eyes were wide like saucers and full of fear. Above the noise was heard three words; “Is mommy okay?”



The teacher caught Natalie by the shoulder. “How's your mother?” The little girl looked up at the teacher with sad eyes. “Da said that mommy won't be back for a while.” The teacher pushed her on her way and picked up the newspaper. After rereading the obituaries, they folded the paper in half and tucked it in a drawer of their desk.



She pushed away from him and stormed out of the house. The loud music died slowly as she walked to the nearest trees. Sometimes she hated boys and didn't understand why they did what they did. After a few minutes of silence, a boy who she had never met sat down under the tree next to her. “So you're out here alone?” She nodded and felt him put his arm around her waist. Ignoring his arm, she tried to put her mind on school which was starting in a few weeks. Instead, he was persistent and started kissing her neck. His breath smelled heavily of Budweiser and olives and he was starting to grab at her. She fought everything he tried but it was no use. Finally he stood up, buttoning up his pants, then walked away laughing. She curled up against the tree, tears streaked down her face and blood was down her legs. Shudders rushed down her spine as she slowly pulled herself up and leaned against the tree for support. She shut the door behind her quietly, hoping not to wake her father, and tip-toed up to her room. She slipped into her bathroom to take a well-needed shower to wash away the tears and blood. An odd feeling crept up inside her, like she wasn't alone. After her shower, she checked around, but her dad was sound asleep. No matter how hard she tried to shake the feeling, she felt she wasn't alone.

She darted up the stairs to the front door and slammed it behind her. “Natalie, we need you to come with us.” Turning abruptly, she saw some of her father's most trusted friends. They beckoned for her to follow them back out the door and they led her to their car. “Where are we going?” “The hospital.” The elevator to the fourth floor wouldn't move fast enough. Panic was evident on her face from what her father's friends told her. They had said her father was attacked by someone who broke into the jewelery store and he was probably going to be in the hospital for a while. Since her mother had passed when she was six, and now she was only fifteen, she would be moving in with her aunt until he was better. The door opened and she stepped out, reading the room number on the wall and following them till room number 108. She glanced in the window and saw her father hooked up to all sorts of machines.