Fated Or Accident novel Chapter 22

I didn't know that was the last night I would have with my family together. The next morning, I woke up alone. I walked to my parents' room but no one was there. I made my way downstairs and there stood half our family, in the living room, just watching me as I walked down the steps. They were all crying. I couldn't find Kevin in the large crowd. I didn't understand why so I walked over to my grandmother, whom lived all the way in Los Angeles. I figured if she was here, then something important must be happening. She opened her arms and embraced me. She sat down and pulled me in front of her.

"Sweetie. Your mommy and daddy were in an accident." She told me with tears in her eyes. I didn't understand so I just stared at her with a confused look on her face. "Baby they didn't make it." She finished. I just stared at her. I looked around at the crowd of people staring at me with that sympathetic look on their faces. I zoned them out and stared at the many photographs hanging up with my family in it. All of us looking happy, like there wasn't a problem in the world. Grandma pulled me to her and just hugged me. My 10 year old brain couldn't understand anything that was happening. It might have been from the grogginess after just waking up, or my brain was trying to shield me from traumatizing events. I just didn't take any anything.

The next few days went by with the funeral and lots of people's sympathy. Kevin stayed quiet the entire time and locked himself in the room whenever he could. A week after my parents' death, and when everyone but my grandmother went home, Kevin disappeared. At first we searched high and low for him. But when even I couldn't find him, we lost hope. Grandma called the police and we sent search parties everywhere. No one could find him. I cried for days because my big brother left me all alone. Grandma kept me in Virginia for as long as she could until she died of a broken heart on the 2 year anniversary of my brother's disappearance. I was really all alone.

END OF FLASHBACK

And now my brother was right here in front of me. He left me all alone in a world that I never knew was so harsh. Everyone shielded me from the pain and hurt but when all those people died, I experienced all the hardships and pain alone. Why did he leave me alone like that?

I pulled Kevin up and walked over to a table where we could sit. He helped me in my chair and sat across from me. Despite all the hurt and pain that I was trying to let go, I felt the constant jab at my heart whenever I looked at him. He was taller now, about 6'3, and he had a little scruff under his chin. His hair was still short, just the way mom use to cut it. But he had this new scar that ran down his cheek and made him look like a gangster despite his casual outfit.

Even though I loved my brother, deeply, it was time for answers. And now.

"Don't give me that look Anna." He said. He was the only person that called me that. And hearing it now, made me even more emotional than before.

"How am I supposed to look? You left me." I said. He looked hurt but I knew he couldn't be as hurt as I was.

"I can explain everything."

"I'm listening."

"The day mom and dad died, I had a fight with them too about the boot camp they wanted to send me to. I didn't want to go at all. But after they died, I felt that it was the only place that I could go."

"Ironic how both children think its their faults for different reasons."

"Yeah. Where have you been all these years?"

"Military. I've been serving in the marines for the past 9 years. I just got to come home on honorary discharge."

"Wow. You've been serving this entire time and I thought you were dead or dealing drugs."

I said joking but completly honest.

"Hah. I only left because I felt it was my fault and I deserved to be punished for my misjudgment. I never wanted to leave you Anna. How's grandma?"