CHAPTER FIVE: FAMILY TENSIONS

Chapter 5: Family Tensions

The Grant family's living room was filled with tension as they waited for news from the hospital. Lena's parents, John and Emily, sat on the couch, their faces etched with worry. Lena paced back and forth across the room, her mind racing with thoughts of her brother Alex.

"I don't understand why this happened," Lena's mother said, her voice shaking. "Alex is a good driver. He's always so careful."

Lena stopped pacing and turned to her mother. "It wasn't Alex's fault, Mom," she said gently. "The police said the other driver, Sarah Taylor, was driving recklessly."

Her mother's eyes filled with tears. "I just want Alex to be okay," she whispered.

Lena's father put his arm around his wife. "We all do, Emily," he said. "We just have to stay positive and support each other."

But Lena couldn't shake off the feeling of anger and resentment toward Sarah Taylor. How could she have been so careless?

Just then, the doorbell rang. It was Officer Jenkins, the police officer who had been investigating the accident.

"Hi, everyone," Officer Jenkins said, his expression somber. "I just wanted to update you on the investigation."

Lena's parents nodded, their eyes fixed on the officer.

"We've been reviewing the evidence, and it looks like Sarah Taylor was driving under the influence," Officer Jenkins said.

Lena felt a wave of outrage. "She was drunk?" she repeated.

Officer Jenkins nodded. "Yes, her blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit."

Lena's mother gasped. "How could she do that?" she whispered.

Lena's father shook his head. "It's just unbelievable."

Lena felt her anger boil over. "She needs to pay for what she did," she said, her voice firm.

Officer Jenkins nodded. "We're doing everything we can to ensure that justice is served."

But as Lena looked at her parents, she saw the toll the accident had taken on them. Her mother's eyes were sunken, and her father's face was etched with worry.

Lena realized that she needed to be strong for her family. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

"What's going to happen to Sarah Taylor?" Lena's mother asked, her voice shaking.

Officer Jenkins hesitated. "That's up to the courts to decide," he said. "But we'll do everything we can to ensure that she faces the consequences of her actions."

Lena nodded, feeling a sense of determination. She would make sure that Sarah Taylor paid for what she had done.

As Officer Jenkins left, Lena's family sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

But Lena knew that she couldn't stay silent. She needed to take action.

And she knew just where to start.