6 “So Cruel” 

Six

“Snowflakes dance in the winter air,

A magical sight, beyond compare.

Christmas lights, a twinkling gleam,

Filling hearts with a festive dream.”

In the distance, the sound of a choir singing hymns from the nearby church wafted in an echoing manner through the air. The choir's voices blended together into a soft, otherworldly hum that seemed to float through the air. The music was like a gentle breeze carrying the voices of angels, a comforting and uplifting sound.

"Jolly old Santa, with a sleigh so bright,  

Delivers gifts with all his might.

Children gather, eyes aglow,

As presents under the Christmas tree grow."

As Florence's gaze adjusted to the darkness, she could see nothing but the inky blackness that enveloped her surroundings. Suddenly, the world seemed to freeze around her while there was this strong and painful ringing in her ears and a bit of confusion in her head. Snowflakes danced in the air, swirling and twirling above Florence’s head. Her breath was visible in the frigid air, a stark contrast to the warmth she craved. 

"Carols fill the air with cheer,

As families gather, year after year.

The spirit of Christmas, warm and bright,

Fills our hearts with joy and light."

Ahead, blinking lights seemed to dance and flicker while people were pulling one person out of the cars which were hit by the truck as their glow distorted through the haze of her vision. The screeching sound that had jolted her awake once again as she was slipping into unconsciousness and then waking up.

The painful screeching sound lingered in her ears, a haunting echo of the terror she had experienced. Her vision was strongly blurred, and her head throbbed with pain. It was as if her senses had been overwhelmed, but her heart was beating the heaviest and the loudest, which was leaving her completely disoriented and confused.

Her ears hurt. They hurt a lot. Florence's ears were throbbing with pain. The discomfort was intense, causing her significant distress.

“My dad… my mom…” Florence muffled in confusion as she held onto the arm of the emergency personnel for support while she was on the stretcher. “Where… Where are they?” She breathed heavily, almost heaving, as if she had no voice. The nurse was now putting on the oxygen mask on her face. “My brother… Where is he?” She asked them weakly and worriedly as the nurse was inspecting her and her blood pressure.

As she continued to struggle with the aftermath of what happened, the sound of sirens pierced the frigid air while there was absolute panic and chaos on a beautiful silent night. Emergency vehicles, their lights flashing brightly, raced towards the scene. The piercing wail of sirens filled Florence’s ears as it was becoming more and more muffled, adding to the chaos, the confusion and the pain. Ambulances and police cars arrived, their crews rushing to assess the situation and provide assistance with the victims of the scene. As the emergency personnel worked to stabilize me being injured and at the same time tried to gather information, Florence was overcome by a sense of relief and gratitude, but still she was so confused about what just happened and how she got out of the car. 

In the midst of the chaos, it was comforting to know that help was on the way.

From a distance, the faint strains of a Christmas carol drifted through the air, a melody that seemed to echo the peace and quiet of the winter landscape. Florence could imagine a young girl, from afar, standing at her window, her gaze drawn to the distant church. The carol grew louder, filling the air with a sense of joy and anticipation. The young girl could possibly imagine the warm glow of the church’s stained glass windows, the smell of pine needles, and the cheerful faces of the congregation.

A smile crept across the young girl’s face as she listened to the familiar tune. The words of the carol seemed to resonate with her in a special way, bringing a sense of comfort and hope. While Florence was struggling to process the whole thing that was happening while at the same time experiencing pain in her ears, head, and almost all over her body. The soft strains of the Christmas carol slowly drifted away, carrying her back in time. Florence pictured myself standing between her parents, a small child at a festive gathering. Her older brother Frederick stood beside their father, and together, their small family of four sang the familiar tune of Christmas Carols, their voices blending with the cheerful chorus. The scene was a snapshot of childhood joy, filled with the warmth and magic of Christmas.

The distant singing of the Christmas carol was a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was always going to be a glimmer of hope. Always. It was a testament to the enduring power of music to bring people together and fill their hearts with joy.

But was there really hope now?

The last sounds that Florence heard were the familiar strains of Christmas carols, their melodies filling the air with a sense of peace and joy but it was getting more muffled. As the music faded into the background, with the people who were frantic, her consciousness began to slip away, and she was enveloped by a comforting darkness.

How could such a season, once a time of joy and wonder, be so cruel and unforgiving?

The world was a blur of colors and shapes by the time the sixteen year old Florence had woken up from being unconscious. She had no idea how long she was asleep, but she felt tired and felt this dull ache throbbing in her head, a constant reminder of the pain that had brought her here in this place right at the moment.

Slowly, her vision cleared, revealing the sterile white walls of a hospital room. Hospital. She knew that she was in the hospital due to the strong scent of medicine and that distinctive hospital scent that she always hated. A soft, rhythmic beeping filled the air, the only sound breaking the oppressive silence. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy and unresponsive. A wave of panic washed over her as she realized that there was nothing but silence.

Weird. Florence thought to herself.