The Witch Queen's Legacy

I never thought my life could change so much in just one month. I would go from having a loving family to moving across the state. I never knew true pain comes from losing someone you love. That physical pain is nothing compared to emotional. It all started on November 20th, the day my brother was returning from his prestigious school after finishing his 3rd year in college. It was already 10:37 a.m., and I immediately realized we was running late. I jumped out of bed, feeling a rush of adrenaline flowing through my body. I rushed to the washroom to take a quick shower and freshen up. I felt more awake and alert as the cold water hit my face. I quickly brushed my teeth and combed my hair as I tried to prepare for the day ahead. Today was special, as my older brother Noah was returning home from his break. I felt excitement and nervousness as I got dressed, wondering how he had been doing during his time away. After getting ready, I hurried downstairs to find my parents bustling around, preparing for Noah's arrival. The house smelled of freshly baked cookies, and an air of anticipation hung in the atmosphere. I helped set the table for lunch while stealing glances at the clock every few minutes. As I hurried down the stairs, my heart raced at the thought of seeing my brother Noah again after a year. I couldn't wait to wrap him in a big hug and catch up on everything that had happened while he was away. "Are we going yet?" I called out for my mom as I reached the bottom of the stairs. She turned around with a smile on her face. "Almost there, Amara," she replied reassuringly. My dad chimed in from the living room, "Just a little longer, sweetheart." Impatience bubbled inside me as each minute passed by like an eternity. My mind raced with thoughts of what Noah would be like now – taller, maybe? More mature? Would he still tease me about being shy? Finally, after what felt like hours but only minutes, we piled into the car and picked up Noah from the airport. As we drove along the familiar route to the airport, conversation flowed easily between us. My parents talked about how much they missed Noah during his absence while joking about who would get tackled first in a bear hug when he arrived. I sat quietly in the backseat, listening to their banter with a small smile playing on my lips. Despite being shy and reserved around others outside our family circle, moments like these reminded me how lucky I was to have such loving and supportive parents. But, like people say, happiness does not last forever.I never thought I would find myself in such a terrifying situation. One moment, my parents and I were driving along the highway, laughing and singing along to the radio, and the next, our car was spinning out of control and crashing into a guardrail. As I sat there, trapped in the overturned car with my parents, panic started to set in. Sirens filled the air as the people near us rushed to the scene. I could hear their muffled voices outside, trying to figure out how to safely extract us from the wreckage. My mind was racing, filled with fear and uncertainty. How could this be happening? Just moments ago, we were on our way to pick up my brother from the airport, excited for his visit home. And now, everything had changed in an instant. I reached out a trembling hand towards my mom, who was struggling against her seatbelt. "We're going to be okay, right?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. She looked at me with tear-filled eyes and gave me a weak smile. "We'll make it through this together, sweetheart," she said reassuringly. With each passing second, my heart pounded louder in my chest. Would we make it out alive? I felt my heart racing as I looked at the wreckage of our car. The accident had happened so fast, and now my parents were in bad shape. Mom was bleeding, and Dad was still unconscious. Panic started to set in as I tried to gather my thoughts and figure out what to do next. Suddenly, I heard the sound of sirens in the distance. Help was on the way. The acrid gasoline smell filled my nostrils, making me cough and choke. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the danger we were in - one spark could ignite the fuel and turn our car into an inferno. But then, like angels descending from heaven, the firefighters arrived on the scene. Their bright red truck stood against the blue sky, a beacon of hope in our darkest moments. They wasted no time springing into action, working with precision and skill to free us from the twisted metal that held us captive. I watched in awe as they used their tools to cut through the car doors, their movements swift and efficient. A sense of relief washed over me as they managed to pull me out of the car and onto a stretcher. But my relief quickly turned to fear as I realized my parents were still trapped inside with me. The firefighters must have sensed it, too, because they redoubled their efforts, working tirelessly to extricate my parents from the wreckage. Every second felt like an eternity as I watched them struggle against time and circumstance. And just when it seemed like they might succeed... BOOM! A sudden explosion rocked the car, sending flames into the air. My heart stopped as I watched helplessly as fire engulfed our vehicle with my parents still inside. "Noooo!" I yelled with tears streaming down my face. Tears welled up in my eyes as I screamed for them, praying that somehow they would make it out alive... In that moment of chaos and despair, all I could do was watch as firefighters fought valiantly to contain the blaze and save whatever remained of the family...and though their efforts were heroic...it was too late for the parents... The pain was too much...and soon later...I lost consciousness... As I opened my eyes, a surge of pain shot through my body, causing me to wince. Blinking rapidly, I tried to focus on my surroundings. The sterile white walls and beeping machines immediately told me that I was in a hospital room. Panic started to rise within me as I struggled to remember how I had ended up here. I attempted to sit on the bed, but the throbbing ache in my head made it difficult to move. The door swung open just then, and Noah rushed into the room. His face was etched with worry as he approached me, enveloping me in a tight hug. "Amara! You're awake," he exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. Confusion clouded my mind as I searched Noah's face for answers. "What's going on?" I questioned, my voice barely above a whisper. Noah hesitated before speaking, his gaze filled with sadness. "Y-you don't remember?" he asked softly. I sat there in shock as memories flooded my mind like a raging river, sweeping me away into a whirlpool of emotions. I remembered our ride to the airport the last time I saw my parents, how happy everyone was since Noah was coming home, and how I never imagined it would be the last time I saw them alive. The car crash replayed in my mind like a nightmare on repeat. The screeching tires, metal crunching against metal, and everything went dark. Noah's voice brought me back to reality, his eyes filled with sorrow and empathy. He reached out a hand to comfort me, but I couldn't move. How could this be real? How could my parents be gone just like that? As the truth settled in like a heavy fog over my soul, grief washed over me in waves. The pain was so raw and intense that it felt suffocating.