Perseverance

Where the world changed

Ana thought it was just going to be another night of babysitting that Friday afternoon. It's not like it mattered to her anymore whether she babysat or not. She hadn't talked to her best friends in 2 months. Lucas Scott, Haley James, and Ana Hendricks had been best friends since they were real little. Ana and Lucas knowing each other since they were born. Karen Roe and Lisa Hendricks were best friends in high school. They promised that when they had kids those kids would be raised together also. And they kept that promise and for years the 2 were inseparable. Then they met Haley and they all just clicked. The three could never be separated or at least that's what they all thought. Then the day came when Lucas started to gain a little popularity at school. He joined the varsity basketball team and at first things were still okay between the 3. Ana would come to the games and they would still hang out at the river court with some of their other friends. But then Haley began to tutor Nathan Scott. Nathan was Lucas' younger half brother and the 2 brothers hated each other. But soon everyone became too busy for the old days. Ana didn't blame them, in fact she was probably the most understanding person in the world.

So instead Ana found a job at a local bakery. Now her life consisted of work, babysitting her younger sisters, or hanging out with the only other friend that seemed to be forgotten about Jimmy Edwards. Jimmy was a kid who was misunderstood. He didn't have very many friends to begin with so losing pretty much all the rest hurt him a lot. Unlike Ana he did blame his other friends for drifting apart. But he was grateful for Ana. She was his only friend now and he was thankful to still have her in his life. Which was why this Friday afternoon he had agreed to hang out while they babysit her two little sisters. Ana had 3 siblings, Matthew her only brother was 15, followed by spending time with them. Matthew was out with some of his friends that night so it was just Ana and Jimmy spending time with the girls.

They had just finished dinner and were going to turn on a movie when the phone rang that night. Ana got up to get the phone having no clue that it was going to change her entire life. "Hello" "Hi is this the Hendricks residence?" "Yes this is Ana Hendricks. Can I help you?" The person on the other side of the phone sighed. "Ana my name is Samantha and I am a nurse at New Brunswick County Hospital. Your parents Lisa and Edward were admitted here earlier. We were just able to identify them and you need to get here as soon as possible." Ana could feel the terror gripping her heart. "Why? Are they okay?" "Ma'am you need to get here as fast as you can. That's all I can really say over the phone." Ana didn't bother to say anymore. She hung up and walked into the living room where Jimmy was still sitting with the girls. "Jimmy could I talk to you in the hall for a minute. Amelia can you stay in here with Ris until we come back." Both nodded their heads and Jimmy followed Ana into the hallway. "Ana is everything okay? Is something wrong?" Ana was doing her best not to lose it. "My parents are in the hospital. I don't know what is going on right now but I need to get over there. I was wondering if you could stay here with the girls while I pick up Matthew and see what is going on?" He nodded his head, "You go. I'll call my mom and let her know I'm going to hang out here with the girls. Call me when you know what is going on." "Thanks Jim."

Ana left the house and called Matthew on the way. When he picked up she didn't even bother to deal with a greeting. "Where are you Matthew?" She could hear him chuckle on the other end of the line. "Hello to you too An. I'm at Jason's house, we're playing video games now. I asked mom if I could stay the night and she said it was fine." Ana was doing her best not to cry. "Matt I'm on my way to pick you up. I need you to meet me out front. I should be there in 2 minutes." "Ana I was going to stay with Jason and the guys tonight. We were going to meet up with some of the varsity guys in the morning to practice basketball." Matthew was on the junior varsity basketball team. He loved playing. He couldn't wait till he was old enough to play varsity. Sometimes Nathan and some of the other varsity players would work with some of the junior varsity players to help them improve and Matthew never missed the opportunity. "Matthew, we have to go to the hospital. I got a phone call, something happened to mom and dad." Matthew was getting his coat on before he could even reply. "I'll meet you outside. Let me just let Jason know." Ana felt a tear fall, she could hear how scared he was in his voice. "Ok Matty, I'm coming down the road now." She hung up before he could reply to her. When she pulled up she saw the front door open and Matthew running out to meet her. She barely even had the car in park before Matthew was opening the passenger door.