Page 75 of Rock Me

CHAPTER TWENTY

Jez

I’m back in the backseat of the car again.

This time Anca isn’t there.

Slowly I can just make out the silhouette of the driver and the passenger in the front seat.

I’m in the car with Mom and Dad again.

On the same road.

"Mom! DAD!" I yell out.

And they laugh and turn around, looking at me.

They look exactly the same as they did the last time. So young, so beautiful, so happy, so much love in their eyes.

"Hey, Jezzy! Want to go get some ice cream?"

"Of course, he does, when has he ever said no to ice-cream?" Dad says to her and she laughs, patting him on the arm.

She turns again to the back seat, smiling at me, while Dad quickly looks at Mom, his eyes filled with adoration for his beautiful wife.

I'm looking forward.

And I'm the only one who sees it.

"DAD!!! WATCH OUT!" I yell, but it's too late.

Everything flashes bright as the headlights of a car coming right toward us blinds me.

The last thing I see is Mom's smile turning into a look of intense horror and fear and Dad's head hitting the steering wheel.

And then my whole body crumples onto itself, and then it's over.

Everything is black.

Except it's not.

I'm awake.

And everything is bright again.

White.

White walls, white bed linens, white plastic cup on the tray in front of me.

I open my eyes and everyone is there.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" is the first thing I say.

And they say nothing.

Because there's nothing to say.

"Where are they?" I yell.