The Accident

Fallon POV

I left work a little after six. It was an early day for me. Dr. Braum usually keeps me until 7, but he let me go early tonight. Bruce offered to come by the house after he got off, but I brushed him off. Not tonight, Bruce. I have a date with a bubble bath, a book, and hot soup.

I am looking forward to the stillness of the house. Nothing but quiet for me tonight. My family will only be gone for three days. I want to get as much peace as possible while they are gone. I prefer the quiet.

Living with my parents and my brother is rowdy. I need moments of silence to listen to the world around me. The quiet isn't something my family appreciates. They like rowdiness and chattering. I prefer calm. I am so different from them. It is not only the hair color or my facial features. It is my personality and way of doing things. Sometimes I feel like my family life is a three ring circus.

I park my car on the street. I usually sit here for a moment, but not tonight. Tonight I get out of the car and go straight to the house. I slide my brass key into the door, anticipating the relaxing night I will have. I smile briefly, thinking about soaking in the rub, eating soup, and reading a book. Tonight will be heaven.

The lock clicks, and I push the door open. I think I hear someone pulling into the drive. I put my purse and bag on the table beside the door and look to see who is pulling into the driveway. It is probably Bruce coming to crash my quiet night. I am surprised to see that it is not Bruce, but a silver unmarked police car.

I step onto the porch and move toward the stone steps. I stand on the top step as two officers get out of their car and walk toward me. I am shaking as they walk toward me. They look worried, and that terrifies me. What is going on? A sudden wave of pain rushes over my body. I feel as if I am going to collapse. I hear my mother scream, then Tad, and finally, I feel a deep hard breath that I know is my father's last breath. I feel my family dying. NO! I want to collapse but then I hear my name.

"Fallon Presley?" the tall, dark brown hair officer asks me. I can't answer him. I look at him. Whatever news he is bringing, I don't want it. He can keep his bad news.

I shake my head No and begin to cry. He hasn't told me anything yet, but I know they are dead. My family is gone. I do not want the details. I want to go into the house and be alone.

"Fallon, I am officer Wright, and this is Officer Randall. May we come inside and talk with you a moment?" Officer Wright asks me.

I nod yes and walk back inside the house. I walk straight to the living room and sit down. I don't want to be standing when they tell me. I take a deep breath in and out, in and out. I try to remain calm. Maybe I am wrong.

"Is there anyone we can call for you? Is there someone here?" Officer Randall asks. He looks around to see if anyone is in the house with me.

"No. Just tell me what is going on, please," I say as calmly as I can manage.

Officer Randall and Officer Wright sit down on the sofa across from me. "Fallon, your family had an accident on the interstate. There is no need to go into details, but they didn't make it. I am sorry," Officer Wright says.

There he said it, in a matter of a fact way. They are dead, and he is sorry. Now I am alone, permanently. How do I respond? I look ahead and say nothing for a few minutes. "Where are they?" I ask.

"They are at a hospital in Staple County. We can call the funeral home for you," Officer Wright says. Officer Wright has obviously done this many times, but when I look at him, I see my pain. He hurts for me, or at least the situation.

I do not know how I can feel what others feel, but I can. Right now, I know that Officer Wright hurts for me. He is sorry that my family is gone. He is unique like me somehow.

I look at Officer Randall, who is sitting silent. "I will call the funeral home. I can do this," I say. I am not sure how I should act or what I should say. My family is gone, and I am numb.

The two officers look at one another. I know they expect me to fall apart, and I will as soon as they leave, but not in front of them. I hear another car and then a door slam. The front door opens, and Bruce comes through the front door.

"I heard. I am here; what do you need?" Bruce asks. How did he know I needed him? How does he know my parents are gone? These are questions for later.

Bruce kneels beside me. He places his hand on my leg. "Boyfriend?" Officer Wright asks.

"No, just a friend," I answer quickly.

The officers wait around, talking to Bruce as I sit in silence. I tune them out. Until I hear my name "Fallon, Fallon," Officer Wright says.

I snap out of it and look at him. "I am sorry, what?" I ask him.

"We are very sorry for your loss," Officer Randall says.

Officer Randall and Officer Wright say something to Bruce. I cannot make it out. I keep looking at the wall in the living room. I hear the door close, and Bruce comes back into the living room. He sits on the sofa.

"Are you alright?" Bruce asks.

I snap back and look at him. "No, but I have to make calls," I say.

I stand, look around for a moment, and then I feel it. I feel a wave hit me. It hits me so hard it knocks me back into my seat. I feel the truck hitting the car, I feel the pain, and I feel their death. I hear the screams of my mother. I listen to her call my name and feel her eyes on me. FALLON! My mother screams my name.

I can't breathe. I begin to hyperventilate. "Fallon," Bruce calls out to me. He rushes over to me. He holds me, rubbing my back, trying to calm me. "Breathe, Fallon, just breathe," Bruce says.

I lay my head on his shoulder. "They are gone. They are really gone," I cry out.  Bruce holds me, rubbing my back until I calm down enough to catch my breath. I feel calmer with Bruce. He is always there for me.

I close my eyes. With my eyes closed, I see the red-haired people again. I feel a calm rush over me. What are they trying to tell me? Who are they?

"Fallon," Bruce says.

I open my eyes. "I need to call my Aunt and the funeral home. I need to eat something. I need to think," I say. My thoughts wander off for a moment as I try to think about everything I need to do. Everything is racing through my mind.

"Calm down; I am here to help you," Bruce says, taking my hand and pulling me closer to him.

I wanted a peaceful three days here in the house alone, and now, I am permanently alone. I should've gone with them. Then I would be with them, dead with them. That is not what I need to be thinking. I need to think rationally. How do you think rationally when your family dies? There is no way to be rational right now. All I can think is ... think is not fair!

I pull myself together and wipe the tears from my face. "There are papers on my father's desk. I will need those and a will. I know my parents had their affairs in order, but Tad. I have no idea what he would want. He is only 15. He had his life ahead of him, and now he is gone," I say.

Bruce remains calm. He listens to me. Bruce has never thought that I am weird or strange. He knows that I sometimes dream or feel things before they happen. He knows I zone out and listen to the silence. Bruce has never judged me. Right now, I need him. I might think I want to be alone, but I know I need him here with me to face the coming days.

"Bruce, how did you know I needed you?" I ask him.

Bruce touches my face. "I felt you calling to me. I dropped everything and rushed to you," Bruce says.

He felt me calling to him. How?