Dreaming With A Broken Heart

Chapter One

Dani rushed out of her room and down the stairs, heading straight for the kitchen. The smell of eggs, bacon, and syrup hit her as soon as she entered the bright kitchen. Her little brother Drew sat at the table eating while her father was at the stove cooking. Looking over his shoulder, he smiled at her.

            “Why in such a hurry Dani?” He removed the skillet from the burner and turned the stove off.

            Dani sat down at the able and ran her fingers through her red hair, “You promised you would spend the day with just me… I didn’t want to over sleep and you end up spending the day with Drew.” She looked at her father who made her a plate of eggs and bacon.

            Setting it in front of her he sat down on her right side, “A promise is a promise Dani, and Drew has a play date today.” He grinned at his six year son.

            Drew wrinkled his nose, “Mommy’s making me go play with Sarah from next door.”

            “Good, you need to make friends; maybe she will be your girlfriend.” Dani teased him before shoveling in a fork full of eggs.

            “Girls are icky!” He shrieked as he shoved his plate away, making them both laugh.

            Standing, her father took Drew’s plate and went to wash it, “Go get dressed and ready Drew so I can take you.”

            Drew stuck his tongue out at his father but did as told. Sliding off his chair, he pushed it in, the walked from the kitchen and headed up stairs. Dani finished off her last bite of egg and took her plate to her father.

            “I’m going to go get dressed, want me to meet you at the car after you take him next door?” She leaned against the counter and looked at her father.

            He smiled at her and kissed her forehead, “Yes, now go on.”

            Smiling, Dani pushed away from the counter and made her own way upstairs. She passed her brothers room, the door was closed, but she could hear him talking to himself. The next room she passed was her mother’s at home office. She was inside working on her computer like she always was. Their bedroom was downstairs. The last room was Dani’s.

            The door was decorated with random sticks and drawings that her and her father had done when she was little. Opening the door she walked in and let it close itself. Her room was decorated like a typical happy teen girls room was. Pink objects were scattered about, and posters of bands were hanging on the walls.

            Walking over to her tiny closet, she pulled off her hello kitty pajamas and let them fall to the ground. Opening the closet she went through her clothes and picked out what she wanted to wear. A pair of tights with stars on them, white shorts, a black tank top that matched the tights, and black and red suspenders. After getting dressed she put on her black convers and tied her long red hair up.

            She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of spending the day with her father as she made her way out of her room. As she walked down the hall she noticed her mother’s office door was closed and guessed that she had probably left for work. Directing her gaze forward she made her way downstairs and to the front door. A key rack hung by the door and she swiped to pairs of keys from it, one to her father’s car, and the other to the house.

            Stepping out of the house, she locked the door behind her and headed to the car just as her father came around the rose bushes that separated their property from their neighbors. A bright smile came to her face as a brilliant idea came to her mind. He gave her a curious look at because of her smile as he reached her.

            “Can I drive?” She held up the keys.

            He laughed and took the keys from her, “Maybe on the way back, don’t need the neighbors getting at me if they see you driving.” Unlocking the car, he got in and started it up.

            Dani pouted but didn’t push it. Walking around the car, she got into the passenger’s seat and buckled up, “Can we listen to Kerli then?”

            “We can listen to whatever you want.” He handed her the CD’s then backed the car up and drove away from the house. Within a matter of minutes they got to mall and parked.

            Getting out, Dani walked around the car to her dad and took his hand. He looked down at her in surprise, “Aren’t you little big to be holding you dad’s hand in public.” He teased her.

            She looked away to hide her embarrassment, “You’re never too old to hold your Dad’s hand…”

            Dani yawned as they walked from the mall, her hands and her father’s full of bags. They had spent the whole day at the mall together. Shopping for everything and anything and eating every time they went past the food court. Getting to the car, he unlocked the trunk put all the bags into it then tossed the keys at his daughter he caught them with a surprised look on her face.

            A gentle smile came to his face and eyes, “You wanted to drive, right?”

            Dani grinned and hugged him tightly, “Thanks Daddy.” Letting him go, she rushed to the door, unlocked it, got in, and started the car.

            Shaking his head, he walked to his door and got in and buckled up, “You need any help?”

            “Nope.” She buckled up then checked her mirrors.

            After backing out of their parking spot, she drove off to head home. Every now and then her father would give her pointers just to be told that she had it under control. After about the twentieth time she couldn’t take it anymore.

            Dani took her eyes off the road to look at her father, “Dad, I know what I’m doing so stop.”

            He opened his mouth to argue but instead other words came out, “Dani look out!” He shouted as he moved to grab the wheel.

            She turned her attention to the front and to her, everything moved in slow motion. Her father grabbed the steering wheel. Her foot hit the brake. Their car went straight into a large truck, and then… She felt pain, all over… And everything went back to moving at normal speed.

            A pained and panicked scream ripped itself out of Dani’s chest, her arms shooting up to protect her face, but something was already there. Her father held onto her tightly, he had put himself between her and the other vehicle. She tried to say something, but the next thing she knew, she was out.

            Slowly Dani opened her eyes. She tried to move, but her whole body felt like it was made out of stone. She took a deep breath just to wince in pain as it burned. Tears filled her eyes as panic started to take over again as she remembered what had happened. Then, she felt something. Something squeezed her hand.

            Turning her head, she met her father’s gaze. He was tightly holding onto her hand. Tears filled his eyes and ran down his face, leaving a path through the blood and dirt on his face. He gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand again.

            “Daddy…” She croaked out, her throat burning as she tried talking, “I’m so sorry…”

            “It’s okay Dani… It’s okay…” He let go of her hand lightly touched her cheek, “I love you Dani.”

            “I love you to Daddy…” She tried to smile at him, she tried to be strong, but she blacked out from the pain.