“Lana, Axel, are you guys ready?”

“Yeah!” Lana grabbed her scarf on the counter and followed her family to the car.

It’s a winter night and the Le family decided to have a dinner night at a restaurant to celebrate the father’s new promotion at his job.

“Lana, dear, isn’t your biology test coming up soon?” Lana’s mother asked, during the car ride. Her mother was a beauty whose age failed to properly reflect her appearance. The same could be applied to her father; the two made the perfect couple with their natural attractiveness. 

“Yeah, it’s coming up next week.” Lana replied with unease, trying to avoid her mother’s gaze in the rearview mirror. She hadn’t studied for it yet since she had been caught up in a new series of events that her friend, Iva, had gotten themselves into. Lana’s mother sighed, and the father chuckled. “It’s alright honey, Lana’s grades are going well so you don’t need to worry.” He placed his hands over his wife’s to assure her.

“Axel.” The father called out for Lana’s brother who is sitting next to her in the back of the car. “How’s work these days?”

Axel replied with a grunt. “It’s going alright.”

Lana decided to block out the family’s conversation and look outside of her window to observe the white scenery. Winter had just begun and already a thick layer of snow had formed on the ground, blanketing everything in pure, streetlight reflected brightness.

“It’s cold…” Lana mumbled. 

-

The family arrived at the restaurant and quickly, the lively atmosphere took over. Lana and her family took a seat and ordered their meals. Lana looked around; many people were enjoying themselves, their children running around, their laughter filling the building. 

“Lana, did you take my blue jumper before?” Axel snapped Lana out of her daydream, and she turned in his direction. 

“Yeah I did, I wore it to school.”

He looked at her with annoyance. “You have five hundred other jumpers, why mine?” 

“They’re big and warm, okay!” The two glared at each other while the parents laughed at their usual antics. This is how life went every day in Lana’s life: squabbling with her brother, witnessing her beautiful parents acting romantic, and letting time fly past her. 

Then a loud scream was heard.

Lana whipped her head around to where the sound was coming from and saw two girls out of their seats, screaming. A raven was flapping its wings and knocking the food all over the floor. “Get this fucking bird out of here!” The girls screeched. In the midst of the panic, the raven stopped suddenly, staring in Lana’s direction, before flying into another cramped nook under a different table. 

“Get out of here, you stupid bird!”

Lana felt a shiver down her spine.

‘What the hell was that?’

“Dear? What’s wrong?” The father looked at her with worry; the rest of the family caught on and followed his lead. Lana shook her head and smiled; “It’s nothing.” “God, how did that bird even get there?” Axel said, while he watched the waiters try to wrestle the raven out from its location, amused. Her mother placed her hands on Lana’s. 

“Are you sure? You seem really spooked out.” 

Lana just smiled and nodded “Everyth-” 

“No, Lana has to take a really big dump.” Axel interrupted, snickering. Lana shot a glance over at Axel who had a smug look on his face. 

“Alright dears, our food is coming, let’s eat.” the mother cheered.

-

“Wah! That was a very good meal.” the father hollered, with the mother laughing alongside him. The family had finally finished the dinner and they walked back to their car. “Congratulations on getting a promotion, honey.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and he chuckled, wrapping his arm around her. Axel and Lana walked behind them, cringing at their romance. “God, are they not embarrassed of themselves?” Lana whispered to her brother. He nodded his head in agreement. “Well, I guess it’s better than two parents who hate each other’s guts.” Lana nodded back. They all entered the car and the father turned on the engine. “Hm, looks like a storm might approach. The wind was getting stronger and it seems to be getting colder. “Let’s get home quickly before it gets worse.”  Lana rested her head against the car window; the ride home was quiet and only the stereo was playing in the background. She felt herself becoming drowsy and slowly she began to close her eyes, falling asleep. 

That small moment where everything was calm dissipated in a single second.

“Oh my god, look out!” Lana’s mother screamed.

Loud sirens blasted into Lana’s ears as she slowly opened her eyes. Everything felt cold and all she felt was unbearable pain.

What’s happening? 

Her vision was blurry, but she could make out red and blue flashing. She looked to her side and her brother was next to her, covered in crimson blood. Before she could register what was happening to her, her eyes drooped heavily, blinding her. 

-

Lana groaned and opened her eyes as she’s greeted with a white ceiling. She heard a gasp. 

“Doctor, the patient has woken up!” She looked at the door and saw a doctor walking in.

“Am I in the hospital?” she asked, weakly. Her throat felt incredibly dry and it was difficult for her to speak. The doctor nodded. “You were involved in a terrible car accident.” Lana’s eyes widened as she recalled the accident; she tried to get up but a sharp pain travelled through her body, preventing her from doing so. “Where’s my family? Are they okay?!” Lana panicked; fear was evident in her eyes as she impatiently waited for the doctor to reply back. “Your older brother is recovering in the next room.” “What about my parents?!” Lana yelled in frustration. The doctor looked at Lana with weary sympathy and sighed.

“Your parents did not survive the accident, I’m terribly sorry.” 

Lana looked at the doctor. A catatonic daze enveloped her entire senses. There’s no way that they’re not here anymore, it isn’t possible. She heard nothing. She said nothing. She had just lost everything.