1 week before

"I hope you die or something," I say anger bubbling up inside me.

"I hope you go crazy because of my death," Tyler says not nearly as angry as me. 

I clench my fists and throw a punch at him. He blocks it and punches me right in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me. 

I decide not to fight him. I'll never be able to do it. I storm off to my room, and flop on my bed. Why do I have to be such a terrible sister?

Present

I walk into the church. Everyone is gathered around the couches. It's raining outside or else we'd be outside. We all head up to the youth room. "Death," Bill begins to say. "What is death even?"

A few people answer. The thing Mom, Dad, and Tyler are close to. 

"You know. Death is a serious thing. My aunt died in a car accident." Bill says. "We'll be doing a study on death for the next few weeks. This week is car accidents." Seriously? "Does anybody know anything about new car accidents?" No one says a thing. "Isabella do you?" He asks the one who likes to talk. She shakes her head. I'm surprised. "Elata do you." Me? He's asking me? My family was just in a car accident. Um... Mom. Dad. Tyler. They're almost dead. What do you want from me? I feel something wet on my cheeks. I'm crying. Don't cry, Elata! Why are you crying? It makes you look weak. What's wrong with you? I shake my head quickly, then step out of the room.

I walk down the steps and sit in the corner of a dark room. I hear someone coming for me. I lower my breathing so whoever is coming doesn't hear me. "Elata?" They say. Brandon. It's Brandon. 

Tears come quicker. I can't stop them. I cover my mouth so I don't make any noise.

"Elata?" He come into the room I'm in. He scans it, then finally finds me in the corner. "Elata," He sits down next to me.

"Why today?" I cry. 

"Hey," He says. "It's okay. It'll be okay."

"No. It won't."

He wraps me in an awkward side hug because I won't move. "If I get Liam's approval, do you want to visit them tonight?" I nod. "Okay. I'll be right back. Stay right there. Don't move."

He runs out of the room and back into the youth room. Are they surprised to see me cry? Do they think I have some mental problem for randomly crying? What are they thinking?

Brandon comes back with Liam. "Let's go."

Youth isn't even done yet, but we're leaving anyway. Liam drops Brandon and I off while he tries to find a parking spot. Brandon wraps his arm around me, helping me stand. If he wasn't here, I'd fall. I'd fall to the ground, and my broken pieces would become even more broken. Would Brandon be able to pick up my pieces?

I walk into the ICU. Visiting hours are almost over. I go into Tyler's room. "Tyler," I say. I grip his hand. "You'll make it through this, okay? You don't give up, got it? Fight this. Keep going. You can't give up. Understand?" His steady heartbeat is the only response I'm given. I bring his hand up to my face. "I love you," I whisper.

I pull away from him and start to leave when his heart rate goes crazy. His heartbeat is fast. Too fast. The room swarms with nurses and doctors. "Tyler," I say. "No, stay alive,"

"Ma'am we're going to have to ask you to leave." A nurse says pushing me out. I breathe in. They need their room. They'll save him. Give them space. Give them time.

I stand outside his room just staring at the door. "Elata," Brandon says putting his hands on my shoulders. "We should go."

"They'll contact me, right?" I stare into his eyes.

"Yes. They will."

I crumble. Just like a cookie. I fall to the floor on my knees. He scoops me up in his arms, and brings me out of the ICU. I grab on to his neck and shoulder, wrapping my arms so I don't fall. 

.....

Brandon walks up to my house with me. "Do you want me to stay?"

Yes. I do want you to stay, but that might be a little weird, wouldn't it? "No, I'll be fine."

"Call me if you need anything, okay?"

I give a part smile. "Okay."