Layla

Prologue

(Edited the prologue) 

Fayetteville, North Carolina-1970 

"Why, didn't you tell me someone hit you?" Layla's mother asked concerned, and sounding angry. 

"It's no big deal. Can we just drop this?" Layla huffed looking out the window. 

The car was silent. All that could be heard was the hum of the engine, and the sound of the tires along the road. Layla read the road sign that informed them they would be driving over Cape Fear River in five miles. 

Layla's mother scoffed and sat back in her seat. "I don't understand, Layla. You've always done well in school, and you've never behaved like this. What's going on? You can talk to us." Her mother said. 

Layla sat in the back sat with her arms folded over each other, while she debated with herself whether she should tell her parents how she's been feeling. 

"If she doesn't want to talk right now, she doesn't have to." Her father spoke, breaking the silence. 

"Really?" Her mother turned her attention to her father, looking at him with angry eyes. "You're not worried at all?" She snapped. 

Layla leaned her head back staring at the roof of the car as she listened to her parents quarrel about her. Shutting her eyes, she tried to tune her parents out, but it was difficult, since it was a small space and their voices grew louder. Between the quarrel up front with her parents, and choosing the right things to say, Layla's head began to throb. It was worse than the bruise that was on her jaw, which strangely, barely hurt. It felt as if someone were trying to pry her head open with a hammer, and she began to feel strange.

"Stop!" Layla shouted to her parents, ending their argument. "I'm tired of moving, alright? I don't want to move anymore! I want a life! I want to meet people and have friends, but I'm never in one spot long enough to obtain that! It was fun at first, but now...I don't want it anymore. I go to school and sit there at the table in class or lunch, envious of the kids because they have something I never will! A life! Not that I don't have a life, but they're settled and get to remain in one spot longer than a month or even two weeks! And I know this is dad's job, which is why I've never said anything to you two. I know how important his job is, and being separated wouldn't work for us. I just," Layla sighed and leaned her head against the cool glass hoping it would help the excruciating headache she had. For some odd reason, it was getting worse, and things were beginning to spin around her. "I'll do better in school, and watch what I say at the next school." She finished then shut her eyes, hoping that would ease the dizziness that overcame her. 

Layla's mother turned around looking at her daughter with sympathetic eyes. "Why, didn't you say anything?" Her mother asked. 

Layla's father sighed sadly, rubbing his forehead. 

"What was the point?" She shrugged as she slowly opened her eyes, looking out the window. Closing her eyes had not helped, and she sat watching as things swirled in front of her.

"Layla, is this why you've been distant? Why, didn't you come to us? We're your parents. You can talk to us about anything. That's why your grades have dropped and," Her dad was interrupted by his daughter.

"Yes, that's why."  Layla frowned. 

"Layla, I'm sorry. I'm trying to find a permanent position. I recently applied for a spot in New York, but," 

This piqued Layla's interest. 

"You did?" She asked. Hope sparked in her chest. 

"Yes, but-"

That was the last thing Layla heard before white hot pain took over her body. The pounding in her head had gotten worse, and she could feel both her temples throbbing. She thought of throwing up, but the pain in the rest of her body was far greater. It felt like someone had lit her body on fire, put the fire out, but then relit it just to watch it burn again. There was screaming, and shouting. She couldn't quite pinpoint who had screamed, and who had shouted. Was it her? The screams sounded like her, but her hearing kept tuning in and out. A hand touched her arm, but she jerked away because the small touch had burned her. At least, that's what it felt like. 

"What's happening?" She panicked. 

Managing to look up, she saw her mom looking at her with scared eyes, and her dad was glancing back at her with worry as well. Layla glanced at the front window, and noticed a car coming in their lane, but she soon discovered it was her dad who had changed lanes. He wasn't paying attention either, and the car was racing towards them. 

"No!" She shouted putting her hand out. 

Putting her hand out, was ridiculous, but it was her first reaction even though she knew it would do nothing. What happened next scared Layla. Her dad looked up after hearing her shout a warning, and he jerked the car over, but the car had hit the bumper. The car then went airborne over the bridge, and Layla held on tightly. Debris in the car soared with them, and Layla's hair flew into her face. The impact was hard, and the car began to sink bringing the cold water in with it. Layla's parents were unconscious, and she slammed her fists against the window to break out. The water was rising higher, and came up to her chest inching closer and closer to her head. The pain still lingered with Layla, but the adrenaline had managed to take her mind off of it. Layla kicked the windows with her shoes, and after multiple kicks she was able to break the window. The water began to fill the car up faster. 

"I can get them." She thought. 

Layla tried to get her parents out, but the water had reached her neck, and was going to encompass her. Taking a quick breath, she went underwater. Layla tried to get her parents, but she was running out of breath. Quickly, she swam out of the car, and swam to the surface. She went back under to get her parents, but the car was sinking, and she wasn't moving fast enough. The throbbing in her head had caused her vision to blur, and her body felt heavy. The pain continued to rip through her body, but Layla kept swimming towards her parents. However, it was too late. She was running out of breathe, and whatever was wrong with her, was worsening. Layla swam up to the shore, and screamed. She screamed from the pain, and from the pain that ripped through her chest. 

"It's my fault." She thought before she fell unconscious.