{Prologue} The sound of a phone hit the polished hardwood floor, my hand had lost the ability to grip. I had lost the ability to feel, period. When the my sisters words registered in my mind I couldn't believe it...my twin brother Mark had saved a little from being hit in the.street, although she was safe, he wasn't so lucky. He lay in a hospital bed hooked to life, in a deep medically induced a coma. "Mommy?...what's wrong?" I felt a tug on my dress, my head jerked down to look upon my three year old daughter Charlay. Her black curls framed her tanned frowning face, and her green eyes were full of worry. Everyone said she was my doppelganger, too bad she looked just like her father as well. The father who didn't even know about her, lived in my hometown, and would soon be struck dumb when he saw her..
{Authors Note} There were a lot of mistakes in the prologue due to my stupid Droid's keyboard, but oh well! Let me know what you & I'll update later tonight.
I started packing immediately, throwing my whole walk-in closet into my luggage cases along with my daughters. Her toys would have been packed as well but she was severely attatched to a velveteen rabbit she slept with and dragged around everywhere; so she didn't want anything else. I slammed down the trunk of my Audi after shoving everything in there and went around it to buckle Char into her child seat with Orange smiley faces on it. She grinned wide at me still thinking this was just a trip to see the grandparents and she kept rambling on about playing with Uncle Mark, I choked with tears everytime she mentioned him in her dreamlike wonder. It was approximately three hours to the Nebraska state border from where we lived, and then another four to my hometown in Iowa. Halfway there Charlay was deadbeat and sleeping in the back, a third of the way there she had finally started tiring, and I was beginning to lose focus on the road. It would be best to pull over for the night, but I didn't want to, especially with only two hours left so I kept on. Finally I saw the welcoming sign to my hometown and grimaced. I really didn't want to face what I knew was coming. {Authors Note} Sorry so far that it's really dry, but it is the foundation for the story after all. Once again I can't take responsibility for any mistakes my Droid makes! Thanks.
I pulled up into my parents drive and park polluting backwards towards my sleeping daughter. I grin softly before realizing why I was here again and tears began to escape my eyes and roll down my cheeks. The front porch light came on and my brothers and sisters came outside. Phil, Rick, Ryan, Mariska and Sophie. I found myself unable to get out of the car so Phil had to open the door and help me out while wiping my tears away. The others grabbed my luggage and Mariska gently carried Charlay into the house. Once inside it was dead quiet, "Where is mom and dad?" "At the hospital with Mark..." Sophie answered my question. Phil set me down on the long couch in the foyer and sat next to me holding my hand for comfort. "I must go see him." I try and get up but Phil pulls me back down. "No you just got home and its late." Phil protested, " besides its been years since we've all been together." I look him dead in the eye with anger clearly written on my face, " We aren't all together, not without Mark." "Hey...I just put Charlay in your bed, she's still sleeping so be quiet." Sophie came down the stairs softly and crossed the room towards us quickly to sit on the couch as well. "Where's he?" I mumble softly, referring to Marks best friend and the...father of my child. Of course everyone else knew who I was referring too, everyone knew what happened but Mark; I plan to keep it that way as well, I don't want to ruin their friendship. "At the hospital as well, he's been there every day and night; he refuses to leave." Ryan replies cautiously. It's understandable for them to walk on egg shells about the subject of him with me..he ruined my heart for anyone else, and yet he unknowingly crushed it as well. It took me years to even get to the point of being okay with it...but I'll never fully heal, and everyone knows this. Well, everyone of course but Mark.
Everyone ended up going to bed an hour or two later, and I snuggled up with Char. I check to make sure she was breathing like the paranoid mother I am, but really, can you blame me? And then I drifted off until morning with her wrapped protectively in my arms. I wake up with a squirming child in my arms, "Mommy let Goo." She giggles. I grin and curl myself around her to begin tickling her. Her shrieks of laughter are probably waking up the whole house if they weren't already awake. My hands tickle her round belly and she cries for help. Someone bursts through my door looking worried. Ryan. "What is going on?!" He asked watching us amused. "Help me Ryry! Help me from the tickle monster." She pleads thrashing about with her rosy cheeks pulled up by laughter. Ryan fake dives onto the bed and snatches her away from me, forming a protective shield around her with his body. She gleefully calls out to me. "Mommy help!" "You switching sides now Char? I don't think so." Ryan laughs and begins to tickle her as well. I pounce on them and try grabbing her away but fake grip loss and she starts reaching out for me. "Ryry! Ryyyyryyyy stop!" Her laughter bubbles out of her and Ryan stops giving her up to me and I clutch her to my chest. "It's okay Char, mean ol' Ryry won't get you again." I joke as she calmer down. "I'm not mean!" Ryan fake pouts and crosses his arms over his chest, his legs sticking straight out from him on the bed. " yeah you are!" Charlay swats at him and he begins to fake cry with his shoulders heaving up and down. Boy this guys good. Charlay leaves my arms to comfort him, " Hey I'm sorry Ryry, I didn't mean it." "I forgive you. Want breakfast?" He asked excitedly. "Yeah!" She gets up and runs out of the room towards the kitchen. "Be careful!" I yell out. "We are going to see Mark afterwards are you coming?" He asked me seriously. " of course. Is...he going to be there?" I inquire softly. "Yeah." Of course... ____________ Did a quick one before church.