Shattered

Shattered

by

Sandra Madera

WATTPAD EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY Sandra Madera

Shattered Copyright © 2013 by Sandra Madera

Ebook Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please download an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not download it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and download/purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

* * * * *

The impact was enough to throw my body up against the steering wheel, knocking the breath out of my lungs with a single blunt force. The sound of my ribs cracking echoed through my ears like the sound of branches breaking in a silent forest. Opening my mouth to scream, both in pain and panic, my voice was silenced by my own fear, blocking my airway like an obstruction.

Without warning, there was a turning and a sound of metal being crushed like a tin can under a great weight. Within an instant, my world spun around as if I was in a blender, cracking all the glass windows. Then the splintered windshield shattered. Small pieces of glass rained on me like drops of water suspended in air. Each shard was as sharp as a dagger, stabbing me all over my body.

My head and shoulder hit the roof of the car as it slammed into the asphalt. Whimpering, I fought to regain control of my body, but when the car turned a final time, my forehead crashed into the steering wheel. The force was so great my head ricocheted off, causing the back of my head to hit the car seat. With my body beaten and broken, I could not move to shelter myself from the blows.

When the car came to a complete stop, it was on its side. The hideous shrieking of metal rubbing on asphalt evaporated into the air, and I was left in utter silence. Struggling to breathe, I managed to cry out for help before I lost consciousness and drifted off into nothingness....

"Miranda, open the door!"

Stirring from my sleep, I sat up in bed, immediately feeling a tickle down my cheek. Bringing my hand to my face, I ran my fingers over it, finding moisture. I had been crying in my sleep again. There was no doubt I had another nightmare. I remembered every detail. It was the same every night since I heard the news a week ago....

Standing and walking briskly towards my bedroom door, I unlatched it and turned the knob, leaving it open for my father to enter as I ran back under the covers.

He entered cautiously as if not knowing what to expect. When his tense shoulders relaxed into a slump, he came towards me, giving me a warm and comforting hug. "I heard you crying again," he said softly. "It sounded like you were almost screaming this time."

Michael Moralez was a handsome man. Having eyes as blue as topaz and hair as black as coal made him popular with the ladies. He had broad shoulders and a muscular build which gave him the appearance of being a man's man. Standing at about six foot three inches, he was quite tall and usually towered over people, giving them a sense of awe.

My father was well-known throughout our small town as a high school football hero. Going onto college, he had won both state and national championships with his team. Everyone expected him to go pro, but a knee injury caused him to be benched the last season of college. Graduating with honors, he returned home and started up several businesses which made him both rich and respected.