truth was out, and Annabel had no choice now but to tell her the rest. “ I have so much to tell you, but I’m scared.”
“Nothing you tell me could be that bad. Don’t be scared,” s he assured her brushing a kiss on her cheek.
Tears escaped and the droplets found their home as they formed a puddle in the creek of Danni’s neck. Annabel explained how her dad used to drink. He drank a lot, she went on. “ One night when she I was eight, my mom loaded me in the car to go find him. He was at the local bar drinking himself into a stupor.” She steadied her breath as she recalled the accident. “My mom pulled him out of the bar, but he became violent. When she tried to get him in the car he refused and grabbed the car keys out of her hand and forced her in the car. He peeled out of the parking lot and sped off. He was going so fast, and the more my mom screamed for him to slow down, the faster he went. He ran the red light on the corner of Buchanan and Amarillo Boulevard and the car crossing the intersection could not stop in time. The car spun out of control until it flipped several times. I don’t know how many times but when I came to I found my mom trapped underneath the car. She must have been thrown and the car landed on her.”
She was so angry, she clenched and her long nails until they bit into the flesh of her palm, drawing blood. “I only received cuts and bruises, and I know the only thing that saved me was I was buckled in. I cried out for help, no one was there, the other drivers’ car also flipped and I couldn’t leave her. When she told me to go get help I refused, but she begged so I ran to the first house and pounded on the door. It took forever before anyone showed up. Danni, there was so much blood, and when I got back with help, my mom was unconscious. I tried to wake her up, but she wouldn’t move. The whole time my dad sat on the curve holding his head, he didn’t help her Danni. He just sat there and rocked.” She sobbed uncontrollably.
“It’s okay sweetheart just breath. Take your time.” She pulled her into her embrace and held her tight. It was making sense now why her mother could not walk.
“Danni, I did something terrible.” She looked at her with sorrowful eyes. She explained the night of the fire. She walked in her mothers’ room to check on her, she found her dad with a pillow in hand. He had it shoved it in her face and all she could do was gasp for air as she tried to stop him, but he over powered her.
“I grabbed the first thing I could find. I wasn’t thinking as I hit him with a brass candle stick. The next thing I knew he was lying face down on the floor, and within seconds there was smoke and fire everywhere. There must have been a lit candle in it and when I flung it at his head it must have went flying. I was in a panic, I tried to lift her off the bed, but she was too heavy and when she told me to get help, it was too late. Everything around us was on fire. I was so scared.” She swallowed as she paused. “I couldn’t leave her so I cradled her in my arms like a young child and would not move. I was ready to die with her that night. Then you came in I held on tight to her. But she made me go with you, and the second we hit the ground outside and the roof collapsed I knew, I just knew she was gone.” She looked at Danni for a long moment searching for understanding then lowered her eyes.
“When I woke up in the hospital, I asked them to let me see you. I wanted so bad to tell you thank you and to tell you what had really happened, but my Aunt and Uncle signed me out of the hospital before I could. After the funeral, they moved me to Illinois with them.” She shook her head helplessly as she waited for Danni to say something.
But nothing came, Danni just sat there speechless. She held her tight. Every time she tried to speak the words would not come
“Nothing you tell me could be that bad. Don’t be scared,” s he assured her brushing a kiss on her cheek.
Tears escaped and the droplets found their home as they formed a puddle in the creek of Danni’s neck. Annabel explained how her dad used to drink. He drank a lot, she went on. “ One night when she I was eight, my mom loaded me in the car to go find him. He was at the local bar drinking himself into a stupor.” She steadied her breath as she recalled the accident. “My mom pulled him out of the bar, but he became violent. When she tried to get him in the car he refused and grabbed the car keys out of her hand and forced her in the car. He peeled out of the parking lot and sped off. He was going so fast, and the more my mom screamed for him to slow down, the faster he went. He ran the red light on the corner of Buchanan and Amarillo Boulevard and the car crossing the intersection could not stop in time. The car spun out of control until it flipped several times. I don’t know how many times but when I came to I found my mom trapped underneath the car. She must have been thrown and the car landed on her.”
She was so angry, she clenched and her long nails until they bit into the flesh of her palm, drawing blood. “I only received cuts and bruises, and I know the only thing that saved me was I was buckled in. I cried out for help, no one was there, the other drivers’ car also flipped and I couldn’t leave her. When she told me to go get help I refused, but she begged so I ran to the first house and pounded on the door. It took forever before anyone showed up. Danni, there was so much blood, and when I got back with help, my mom was unconscious. I tried to wake her up, but she wouldn’t move. The whole time my dad sat on the curve holding his head, he didn’t help her Danni. He just sat there and rocked.” She sobbed uncontrollably.
“It’s okay sweetheart just breath. Take your time.” She pulled her into her embrace and held her tight. It was making sense now why her mother could not walk.
“Danni, I did something terrible.” She looked at her with sorrowful eyes. She explained the night of the fire. She walked in her mothers’ room to check on her, she found her dad with a pillow in hand. He had it shoved it in her face and all she could do was gasp for air as she tried to stop him, but he over powered her.
“I grabbed the first thing I could find. I wasn’t thinking as I hit him with a brass candle stick. The next thing I knew he was lying face down on the floor, and within seconds there was smoke and fire everywhere. There must have been a lit candle in it and when I flung it at his head it must have went flying. I was in a panic, I tried to lift her off the bed, but she was too heavy and when she told me to get help, it was too late. Everything around us was on fire. I was so scared.” She swallowed as she paused. “I couldn’t leave her so I cradled her in my arms like a young child and would not move. I was ready to die with her that night. Then you came in I held on tight to her. But she made me go with you, and the second we hit the ground outside and the roof collapsed I knew, I just knew she was gone.” She looked at Danni for a long moment searching for understanding then lowered her eyes.
“When I woke up in the hospital, I asked them to let me see you. I wanted so bad to tell you thank you and to tell you what had really happened, but my Aunt and Uncle signed me out of the hospital before I could. After the funeral, they moved me to Illinois with them.” She shook her head helplessly as she waited for Danni to say something.
But nothing came, Danni just sat there speechless. She held her tight. Every time she tried to speak the words would not come
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