Waiting to Exhale ~ a short story

Waiting to Exhale ~ A Short Story
By Ada

It was foggy, and the rain was coming down hard. She could barely make out the outline
of the trees that lined the road her family was driving on. She leaned forward, trying to see
out of the front car window. Then everything turned upside-down. A huge splash, lights,
jolting, a crash. Darkness.

Alicia DeCostella woke up in a cold sweat. She stared at the room around her, trying to
remember where she was, and how she got there. Pain. She looked down at her wrist,
which was bandaged neatly. Then it all came back to her, everything about the accident
that happened only hours before, calling her Aunt, the ride home, her family still at the hospital.
Alicia got up and wandered out to the kitchen to get a drink of water. She sat down at the table
and tried to sort through her thoughts, but could only think of the jumbled moments of and after
the accident…

Alicia, her brother, and her parents were driving home after attending a friend's birthday
cook-out. It was storming, the rain was coming down in sheets, and the fog was thick.
Suddenly, there was a huge splash as they drove over a dip in the road that had filled
with rainwater. They saw faint headlights coming straight towards them, and their Dad
swerved to avoid a collision Maybe instead of 'a collision', 'the collision' I think it reads smoother, merely seconds too late.

Alicia couldn’t remember much of what happened in the time between just after the
accident and going to the hospital. She remembered them saying something about a
severe head injury… but who were they talking about? No one would let her see the
car before they left the accident scene. But as they 'They' is a bit to vauge, maybe write 'the ambulance' instead? pulled out to head to the hospital,
she caught a glimpse of it. The front and left side Of the car?, instead of 'it' was completely demolished.
At the hospital, they told her she had fractured her wrist, and had suffered a minor
concussion. Other than that, she was fine and could go home. I think you should take out this period, make it a comma, and take out the 'and' And the rest of her
family? The doctors would tell her nothing. She was to call the closest family member to
take her home.
The rest was a blur. Her Aunt Corrine came to pick her up, and this 'and' might need removal as well before they left, Corrine
had a brief conversation with the Doctor. Alicia could only pick up bits and pieces:
"…be okay?" "We…think he suffered…head..." " What...telling Alicia?" "…no sense…worrying.
Her concussion…don't tell her."
Alicia did not bother asking her Aunt about the conversation. this period changed to a comma? She knew she would be told
nothing. But what was it they weren't telling her about her family? They were her family,
she had a right to know!

Anything that is my suggestion is in purple text

I am trying to be helpful, I am so sorry if anything I said hurts your feelings.

I really like how this story starts, and want to encourge you to keep up the good work!

I really don't care if you take any of these suggestions, I just wanted to try and help you out a bit.​
 
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Alicia took a sip of water and tried to remember more of what had been said at the accident scene
and the hospital.
She looked up, startled to see her cousin, Emma, standing at the kitchen sink.
"What are you doing?" Alicia whispered.
"Same thing you are." Emma smiled, and poured herself a glass of water "Couldn't you sleep, either?"
Alicia sighed "Well, I had been asleep. But a dream…" she broke off.
"The accident?" Emma asked, softly.
"Yeah. I can't block it out long enough to get a decent night's sleep. I feel like..." she searched for the
right words "Like I'm holding my breath, waiting for something."
Emma didn't know what to say, so she kept quiet.
Alicia sighed again, and stood up. "I guess I should try to get some sleep. I just hope the dream
doesn't come back. It was awful, like reliving it."
Emma, still at a loss for words, walked over to her cousin and gave her a hug.
"Goodnight, Em." Alicia whispered
"Goodnight."

It was still raining when Alicia woke up the next morning. She laid there listening to the rain, hearing
the sadness in the sound of it. She used to love listening to the rain. She would close her eyes and
hear it gently pattering on the roof… But now, she never wanted to hear the dismal sound of it again.
Someone knocked and the door. "Come in" she said absentmindedly.
Emma poked her head in the door "Good morning, Sunshine!" She said brightly.
Alicia smiled, and sat up "Hey, Em. Were you able to get some sleep last night?"
"Yeah, a little. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. At least the dream didn't come back."
"I bet that's a relief" Emma held out the pile of clothes she was carrying "I thought you might need these."
"Thanks" Alicia swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Did you guys eat breakfast yet?"
"No, but Mom is making it right now. There should be just enough time for you to shower and dress."
"Okay, thanks Emma. For everything"
Emma smiled "No problem, Alli."

15 minutes later, Alicia wandered out into the kitchen. Corrine was just setting breakfast on the table.
She smiled at Alicia "Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, pretty well, thank you." Alicia tried to smile back, but then she remembered the conversation Corrine
had with the doctor at the hospital. "Aunt Corrine..." she started, then trailed off.
Corrine looked at her quizzically "Yes?"
Determined to ask, Alicia continued "What did the doctor tell you about my family last night?"
"I...we think it would be best if-"
"No!" Alicia cut her off "They are my family, and I want to know!"
"Alicia…"
"Please, Aunt Corrine. Please tell me." Alicia pleaded.
Corrine sighed "You're right, you should know. I'll tell you."
 
Thanks, Ducklvr, for your suggestions, they are very helpful. I wrote most of the second part of the story late at night, so I wasn't thinking as well.
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I will try to keep your suggestions in mind as I continue writing the story.
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Thanks again
 
It was really no problem.


Now I want MORE


Thanks so much for sharing your writing with us!
 
Awesome work! I think I'm going to follow this one. It's a great idea! Can't wait to find out what happens.
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Hey, sorry I didn't get to write more this afternoon like I thought I would, I wasn't home all day.
Anyway, here is a little more
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"The doctors are pretty sure that the only thing wrong with your brother
is that he has a broken leg, but they won't know for sure until he has
regained consciousness. Your parents…" Corrine took a deep breath and said
"It was the front of the car that got hit the hardest. Your Mom has a collapsed
lung, a deep gash over her eye, and the bone in her left leg is shattered, but
they expect her to make a full recovery."
"What about Dad?"
"Are you really sure you are ready to hear this, Alli?" Corrine looked worriedly
at Alicia, who had gone pale after being told about her mother.
"If I'm not ready now, I may never be."
"Your Dad has a brain injury. He's not responding well, and…" she paused, "The
doctors aren't sure he's going to make it, dear."
Alicia sucked in her breath. She didn't cry, and she didn't get angry. She just sat
there, not moving, not looking at anyone, just numb.

Emma walked in and, after noticing Alicia's expressionless face, looked quizzically
at Corrine, who shook her head, signaling Emma not ask Alicia questions.
The ringing of the phone broke the awkward silence. Corrine quickly went to answer it.
When she hung up, she was smiling.
"That was Dr. Hall from the hospital." she said "He said your brother is conscious and
can come home, now."
Alicia looked up, and the thought of Jacob coming home made her smile a little. At least
she would have someone to talk to that could understand what she was feeling about
the accident. Alicia loved her Aunt and cousin dearly, but they had never been through
like this, and could never understand it, try as they might.
Corrine set three plates of bacon and eggs on the table and they all sat down to eat
before leaving to pick up Jacob from the hospital.

Edited to add last paragraph. More tomorrow
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