CHAPTER ONE
Chapter 1: Shattered
Lena Grant's world shattered into a million pieces the moment her phone rang. She was busy preparing for her shift at the local café, her mind preoccupied with the mundane tasks of brewing coffee and baking pastries. But the sound of her mother's frantic voice on the other end of the line changed everything.
"Lena, it's Mom. There's been an accident. Alex...oh God, Lena, Alex has been hurt."
Lena's heart dropped like a stone. Her brother Alex, always the adventurous one, the one who lived life on the edge. What had he gotten himself into this time?
"Mom, what happened? Is he okay?" Lena's voice trembled as she asked the questions, already knowing that the answers wouldn't be good.
"They say it was a car accident. Sarah Taylor...she was driving the other car. The police are still investigating, but...Lena, it's bad. Alex is in critical condition."
Lena felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Critical condition? What did that even mean? She thought of her brother, lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. The image was too much to bear.
"Where is he?" Lena demanded, already grabbing her keys and heading out the door.
"He's at St. Michael's Hospital. I'm on my way there now."
"I'll meet you there," Lena said, trying to stay calm.
As she drove to the hospital, Lena's mind was a jumble of emotions. Fear, anxiety, and anger all swirled together, making it hard to think clearly. She couldn't believe this was happening. Not to her family. Not to Alex.
When she arrived at the hospital, Lena's mother was already there, pacing back and forth in the waiting room.
"Lena, thank God you're here," her mother said, rushing over to hug her tightly.
"How is he?" Lena asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Her mother hesitated before answering. "The doctors say he has a long road to recovery. He's suffered severe injuries, including a head trauma and broken bones."
Lena felt a wave of nausea wash over her. This was too much to take in.
"What about Sarah Taylor?" Lena asked, her anger rising to the surface.
Her mother's expression turned grim. "The police are investigating, but from what I understand, Sarah was driving recklessly. She's being charged with reckless endangerment."
Lena's eyes narrowed. Reckless endangerment? That was too lenient a charge for what Sarah had done.
As they waited for news from the doctors, Lena's mind kept wandering back to Sarah Taylor. Who was this person who had so carelessly destroyed her family's life? And how could Lena ever forgive her?