Rate this Story (5 best) 1 2 3 4 5   1 comments /

SUMMARY: When 16-year-old Kara herself and her little sister in a car accident, Kara starts to learn that it changes everything. Including her own relationships with her family and friends.

Changes
By: Kate B.

Edited, tweaked, and reposted!
Two little asides: I have no real experience with homosexuality, disabilities, or cancer, so please don't review and tell me all the things I did wrong. I don't mean to make light of any of it, but humor is how I try and deal with all crises, so...
Second, the views on the affects of chemotherapy are mine, and probably skewed, so please take it with a grain of salt.
Reviews and constructive critisism are welcome. I don't do this kind of story often
________________________________________
"Come on, Kara! Please?" I looked up from my laptop computer and saw my little sister jumping up and down like a puppy. "30 minutes! Just drive me over to the mall! Wendy's meeting my there! Come on, Kara, please, please, please!!"

"For the last time, Gina, no!" I shouted, angrily. "I've got to get this essay written by Monday! And Mr. Gibbs doesn't allow late stuff! Ask Tom."

"He's with Kyle," Gina said, slyly. Oh, Lord. I loved my brother, but the fact that he was gay was, well... slightly weird to me. "Come on. You stay up all night anyway and you have all day tomorrow to work on it!"

I sighed. Gina was tenacious for a 12-year-old and I really did want to take a break. "Okay. But I'm only dropping you off. And Wendy's mom has to bring you home. Got it, squirt?"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

I got up and put my shoes on before grabbing the keys to Dad's truck and telling Mom where we were going. Gina got into the passenger seat and I got behind the wheel, checking to make sure that everything was clear before pulling out and heading onto the road.

"Kara, why don't you come and shop with us? You could buy that sweater you've been eyeing all month," Gina said as I accelerated.

"I don't know. I really should finish my homework. Besides, you have reading to do too, don't you?" I said, trying not to think of the soft cashmere sweater I'd been swearing to purchase all month. It would look great with my blue skirt and brown boots.
"I did my homework last night. Besides, we never do anything together anymore. You're doing school stuff all the time. Or you're with Charlie," Gina said, quietly as she looked out the window.

"It's high school, Gina. I have to do well so I get into a great college. And everyone expects you to have a boyfriend." I looked at my little sister and smiled. "I promise we'll start doing more stuff together. Okay?"

But Gina didn't answer. Her eyes were wide in fear and as I turned my head, a huge truck smashed into the front of the truck and my head slammed against the steering wheel, causing me to black out.
-----------
When I started to come to, I vaguely heard voices and tried to move to find Gina. "Gina..." I tried to call her, but my voice was a whisper.

"Hey, don't try to talk, honey," said a male voice. "We have the little girl out of the car. But I need you to hold still."

"Is she okay?" I asked, weakly as a couple people carefully slid me out of the car. As the paramedics put a collar around my neck, I heard one of them gasp.