Not A Small-Town Girl

Chapter 20-1

"Caleb, Alice, it’s me, Audrey. Vivian, Howard, and everyone else are all hoping you’ll wake up soon. Everyone’s been so good to me-Danielle’s been great too. I pray for you both every day. As long as you wake up, I swear I’ll do anything," Audrey sobbed, her voice thick with emotion.

She turned to Vivian and Howard, tears streaming down her face. "I can’t even bring myself to visit Alice and Caleb anymore... I always end up crying, and I’m scared my emotions will just bring them down."

"Honestly, I wish it was me lying there instead of them-I’d take their pain for them if I could," she choked out, her tears flowing like an uncontrollable river.

Vivian and Howard exchanged a look, their eyes red and swollen from crying. "We know you’re just trying to help. Alice and Caleb will pull through," Vivian said gently, pulling Audrey into a tight hug.

Danielle stood quietly, watching the scene unfold. Audrey was crying like she’d already lost her grandparents, her wailing probably disturbing everyone else in the hospital.

spoke up then and suggested that Vivian and Howard bring Audrey outside so she could get a

two elders, intubated and hooked up to ventilators, quietly slumbering. Her grandfather’s face

bed. It was easy to tell that she had

with her family, she had no desire or aspiration for affection or familial love, but now as she stood gazing at her grandparents, she

she noticed that even though the car accident had been serious, it didn’t justify such

of order either, so there was no reason why they both

and placed a hand each on her grandparents. "Grandpa, grandma. Can you hear my voice? It’s Danielle. If you can hear me, try moving

reaction whatsoever. Danielle retrieved two pills from her bag and put

David had said that