Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ With Love, Elizabeth ❯ With Love, Elizabeth ( Chapter 1 )

“Mrs. Hawkins? I have some rather distressing news concerning your eldest daughter…”

 

We were watching an old black and white film, but I can't remember what. The title wasn't important. I just remember it was scary-like my world was about to be. It was family movie night, just like every Friday had always been. The night we rented whatever movie popped into our head, the night everyone had to turn down any offers made to go out.

 

There were only two rules: we couldn't watch something we had seen already, and everyone had to agree on it. Unless of course it was a chick flick, whereas dad wasn't allowed to complain no matter how tear jerky. I can still hear the damsel in distress crying out as the door bell rang, interrupting our bonding time. Looking back, it should have forewarned me for the news that followed, scary and painful.

 

My mother sighed, clicking the `pause' button and heading to answer the door with an air of annoyance. I exchanged surprised glances with my dad. My mom wasn't fond of being disturbed in the middle of what she thought was important. Most of the time, she simply didn't open the door, or answer the telephone, but for some reason she was making an exception tonight.

 

We waited and listened as she opened the front door. I could just hear the frost creep its way inside immediately afterwards, giving me shivers. December is much colder in Tennessee than Florida, where I grew up. We moved here over two years ago so that my dad could accept a job he had recently been presented.

 

It had been me, my sister, and my parents then. Now there were temporarily three as a result of my older sister, Elizabeth, starting college the preceding fall. She was attending a university in Delaware. I could only imagine the horror of the winter she was going though.

 

I recalled the last time we spoke. It had been around two weeks before, when she finally seemed to be getting settled into her new home.

 

“It's just so pretty up here, Allison; I wish you could see all the snow!”

 

My sister had always taken to change better than I ever had. I was still getting used to Tennessee's winter. “I'm glad you like it, how is the writing class?”

 

“Well, actually,” She started, letting me know right away that she had new, or changing, information. “The class was too full this semester. I'll have to wait until the spring to take it.”

 

I frowned. Writing had always been Elizabeth's life, as far as I could remember. Yet she didn't sound very disappointed. “I'm sorry, Liz. Are you sad?”

 

“Well, I was at first. I mean, I really wanted in that class. But since I couldn't, I've managed to sign up for this amazing communications class instead. It's really been able to open my eyes, you know?”

 

“I thought you would be more upset than that.”

 

She sighed contently, I could visualize that far away smile on her face, “I know, I thought I would too. But one of the first things they taught us in the class is `Never fall into the present, because you'll eventually be stuck in the past.'”

 

Then she told me to think about it for myself, and that she had to go, saying a hasty `good bye' and `I love you' before hanging up.

 

“Mrs. Hawkins?” I heard a man ask my mother, bringing me back from my memory. When he went on, I assumed she nodded. “I have some rather distressing news concerning your eldest daughter.”

 

It has been nearly twelve hours since that man's visit. We've been waiting patiently in the hospital Elizabeth was brought to, our movie long since forgotten. The man hadn't been lying when he said his news was distressful.

 

Elizabeth had been in a terrible wreck. She was driving to her dorm, on her way back from the library. She often went to the library, seeing as how reading was the second biggest part of her life. She was turning into the campus when a drunk driver swerved and hit her from the driver side.

 

She skidded on the road and slammed front first into a building. The car caught fire, and her air bag wasn't helping the situation. Luckily the drunk driver had a friend who was able to call for an ambulance. She was rescued from the car and rushed to a hospital.

 

The doctor had already given my parents little hope. He said that along with all the other injuries she had acquired, there were horrible burns all along her body. My mom sat crying, my dad trying his best to hold and console her. I sat a few chairs away from them. The bulk of their emotions were over whelming. Besides, everything would be fine. So I got comfortable and waited silently once more.

 

I didn't have to wait long. It was only two hours later until the doctor came back. He scanned the room, coming over as soon as he spotted my parents. I expected him to smile, to say that my sister would be ok, just a few scars here and there. But he walked with a grave appearance, and I suddenly wished he would go away.

 

He leaned down to speak with my parents. I wished they would light up at his words, to be ecstatic at the news of Elizabeth waiting to see them in her room. It didn't happen. Instead, my mom's silent crying turned into loud sobs of angst. My dad closed his eyes and wore the most intense expression I had ever seen. It was frightening.

 

I sat there, watching the doctor leave the small waiting room. Then, all at once, it hit me. Emotions suddenly choked me. Anger at the drunk driver, sympathy for my parents, I couldn't breathe. The tears flowed shamelessly; the sorrow and wanting for Elizabeth hitting me like a tsunami. It was unfair. Life was despicably unfair.

 

“Allison Hawkins?”

 

I looked up at my name. A nurse walked over, a sympathetic smile on her pretty face. She silently and carefully handed me a folded piece of paper, as though I were some wild child, just waiting to strike out. I paid no attention as she scurried away, focusing on this piece of paper.

 

I took my time in opening it, my hands shaky from the ever fresh tears. I examined the handwriting, recognizing it as my sister's. But it was dreadfully sloppy and crooked, as though her hand had been just as unsteady as mine.

 

“Little sister, I know I don't have long. When I am gone, I'm sure I will miss you as terribly as you do me. But I want to reassure you that I am very happy, and regret nothing. Send mom and dad my love, and please try to remember, never fall into the present, because you'll eventually be stuck in the past. With love, Elizabeth.”

 

I slowly read and reread it, trying to fully take everything in. When I was finished, I smiled and let out something between a sob and joyful laugh.

 

As I looked out the window, I remembered our last conversation as I noticed for the first time the snow. It really was very pretty.