Crippled

Prologue

Prologue

"I open my eyes

I try to see but I'm blinded

By the white light

I can't remember how,

I can't remember why

I'm lying here to night

And I can't stand the pain

And I can't make it go away

No, I can't stand the pain

How could this happen to me?

I've made my mistakes

Got nowhere to run, the night goes on

As I'm fading away, I'm sick of this life

I just wanna scream,

how could this happen to me?"

(Untitled by Simple Plan)

I hummed along to the ending song on the radio, trying to block out the argumental comments that my parents were throwing at each other.

"Can you ever just shut up? Why do you always gotta be a bitch?" My dad spat in an angry tone. His face was red, and his brown eyes were filled with anger as he screamed at my mother. I turned to my mother who was wearing a horrified expression, but it soon turned to wrath.

"Watch your language in front of Lauren!"

"Like you haven't said anything worse!"

"You're an asshole, Brett!"

My mom turned her head away from my father as she looked out the window of the car. Her light, caramel colored hair, which I luckily inherited, was now a bird's nest of disarray. Continuing the argument, she turned back toward my dad as she hollered more hateful words.

I felt a tear trace my cheek; I hated when they argued. My heart felt heavy, and I feared that my heart broke more and more as each word was spoken. I tried to block my parents' conversation from my mind, but was nearly impossible.

I stared out the window, watching the raindrops splatter against the cold glass. As their pitter-patter filled my ears, I ran my finger down the window, following the racing raindrop.

I was strangely entertained with the raindrops dancing on the car. I thought they were beautiful as they swerved around each other. I was nearly distracted from my parented until I heard a sound that sent fear running up my spine.

SMACK! A loud noise made my head snap toward my parents. I saw my mother covering her face as she cowered in fear. She looked like a shaking puppy abused by its owner. There was a red mark printed across her face, leaving evidence of the slap.

"How dare you touch me?" she screeched while landing hits on my father's shoulder. He used his free hand to try to hold her back, but she still continued to smack him.

The car suddenly jerked off the road as Father lost control. The rubber tires screeched against the road as we skidded across the slippery surface. I felt as if I were on a horrendous roller coaster as we flipped in circles. I couldn't catch up with my breath as it grew rapidly with each second. Time froze as I watched the scenery whip around us. The fear inside me grew while I let screams shoot out my mouth.

When the car came to a halt, my head was spinning, and my body felt limp. I agonized with pain, and I saw black patches in my vision.

The last thing I remember seeing before my mind went blank was a pair of headlights aiming at our car. As I blacked out, I felt an unimaginable pain shoot through me, but it quickly went away as I let sleep take over.

The sound of sirens ran through my ears as my eyes shot open. My vision was blocked by a white light. I heard people screaming at each other, but I couldn't make out the words they spoke.

The last thing I remember before passing out again were the raindrops splashing by face, leaving me shivering in the brisk winds.

I awoke to someone squeezing my hand. My fingers twitched when I tried to move my hand. A familiar voice rang through my ears.

"She's awake! She's awake!" the voice yelled," Nurse! I need a nurse!" He then turned his attention back to me," It's okay, Lauren. I'm here. Open your eyes."

I tried to open my eyes, but they were clammed shut. My head ached with anguish as I fought with myself, trying to pry my eyes open.

When I finally opened my eyes, I came face to face with a tall, built man. He looked horrible. His eyes were red and his face was clouded with a tedious look. Despite his current condition, I still recognized this face: my older brother, Patrick.

"Oh, thank God!" he exclaimed while throwing his arms around my limp body.

I looked behind him at the hazy background, trying to figure out where I was. My vision would not stretch to the setting of the room, but I knew I was in an uncomfortable bed, covered in scratchy sheets.

I hadn't a clue where I was, and as I travelled my mind for some recollection, pictures of the accident flashed through my head. I remembered my parents arguing as their screams echoed in my head. I remember the weightless feeling of spinning around as the car swerved out of control. Most of all, I remember the pain that shot through me when the other car collided with ours.

All the pain was left in my mind, and I could practically feel it assembling inside my body once again. I screamed in agony as my eyes were filled with salty tears. My muscles began to burn, and my mind went on a rampage.

Many moments of torturous pain went by until new faces appeared in my sight. There was a lady telling me to relax as another injected medicine into my IV tube.

Soon enough, my muscles began to unwind. I stretched to release some of the pain, but I felt a strange sensation coming from my body. I moved my arms and cracked my neck, but my legs refused to act.

I began to panic. I sat up and tried to move my legs with all my strength. They wouldn't budge!

I felt as if my legs had fallen asleep, but there was no tingly sensation. There was just.....nothing. No pain. No movement. Absolutely nothing.

Tears shed my eyes as I became frustrated. I couldn't even manage the slightest movement. I shook my legs with my hands, but I still couldn't get them to do anything.

"Lauren!" my brother began to say in a stern, yet saddened voice, "It won't work! I'm sorry, but I promise it'll be alright."

I didn't know what he was talking about nor did I care at the time. As more and more tears escaped my eyes, I frantically continued to attempt to move my legs, but was stopped again by my brother.

"Lauren!" he said, now tears were streaming down his cheeks as he held me in his arms, "Your legs won't move. They won't ever move."