Beep, beep, beep. The sound of the car horn resounded in her mind. But, she didn't hear it... she didn't even know what happened until the car swerved and bam! It tumbled, showing the face of the victim asleep... or dead.
Diana held her heart, and there was no doubt that it was racing faster than it was before. The sadness, hatred, and betrayal that took hold of her heart seemed to be lost as she brought out her phone and dialed the security number... Tun, tun, tun, And then came a voice, "Security service, how may I help you?" And all that she could say was, "Help, an accident!" before her phone slipped from her hands and she found her way to the car in a struggle to help the man out of the car.
Carefully pulling him out of the car, she started with CPR... for months, it seemed she was there with tears on her face and the platter of rain around her as she moved her hand...Up, down... up, down rhythmically before she felt someone holding her. The ambulance is here. She said with tears in her eyes, and she watched as the man was taken away.
The not so busy road became flooded with policemen and ambulances, and all she could do was stare.
"Hello, Miss, are you okay?" She heard one of the paramedics ask.
"I killed him ... I need to be arrested." She said as she found her way to one of the policemen.
"Are you okay, miss?" The officer asked, looking at her face.
... but before she could speak, her breath got hitched, and darkness took over.
"Please, you have to wake up." A voice beside her said in between cries.
Opening her eyes, Diana met with a familiar face, and she smiled...or tried too.
"She's awake!" The voice screamed, and Diana swore she almost had a heart attack. She wanted to smile, but strangely, she couldn't. Sadness... and a series of past events took over her. Yes, her birthday, the betrayal... the car...
"Where is he? Did I kill him?" She asked with tears in her eyes.
"Shhh, shhh, please don't think now." Her mother said, hugging her tightly, but she couldn’t bear, not thinking as the event replayed in her head.
She held her heart and cried out. "Excuse me, Ma'am, I need to check her pulse." The doctor said to her mother.
"You need to breathe, and do not let your thoughts hunt you." The doctor said before he left the ward.
The policemen came in later, and Diana brought her two hands out, signaling them for an arrest.
"We saw the Cctv camera, you tried saving him and we can't arrest you." One of the policemen spoke.
"He horned, but I didn't hear him, so technically, I killed an innocent man." Diana said, pleading with her eyes to be arrested.
"We are sorry, Miss, we just came to check on you, to be sure you are alive." The other police replied.
"I am sorry... I ... I'm so sorry." She cried, hugging her mother.
Hours later, she was discharged from the hospital. However, a therapy meeting was scheduled for her. To help her recover. But Diana wasn't up for it. "I am not a good person." She said, staring at her mom.
"Baby...please.. don't..."
But her mothers words were cut short as Diana continued. "Dad died while getting me a surprise for my 18th birthday 12 years ago, and... and... yesterday... yesterday, my fiance betrayed me, knowing it was my birthday..." Staring at the far end corner of her room, she continued. "I struggled to get him a slot for his birthday last year, which awarded him a good job, and in return, I got betrayed on my birthday... I... I saw him kissing another lady when I went over to his house and then... I had to walk home in the rain and ended up killing a man..." Facing her mother, she asked, "How can a good person be filled with misfortunes on her birthday? Why must it always be November 13th? Why...why? She asked, holding her chest tightly as her tears found their ways to her pillow.
Her mother came closer to hug her, but Diana moved away. ”I would like to be alone, please?" She said, shutting her mother out.
Days, it seems, but it took more than a week, and still Diana could hardly eat nor drink well. Her life was miserable, and she knew she deserved it. Her eyes were swollen with cries as she urged her shadow-self to find the name of the man and be sure if she didn't make someone lose her dad.
Unfortunately, what she saw in the news broke her more. He had a daughter... John Clinton... oh, he had a daughter named Delight, and it happened that November 13th was her birthday, too. ”Was he going home to her just like her father was, too, before he had an accident?" She asked no one in particular. She held her heart tightly, and her eyes didn't produce tears like it once used to. It seems her world was collapsing when she found that Delight was only 13 years old.
Standing up from her bed, she struggled to get outside her room with her laptop in hand. She saw her mother's sad face and looked away. The smell of food filled her nostril, and her stomach growled.
"Please, find her." Diana spoke, showing her mother the girl's picture.
"I will, if you promise to eat and also visit the therapist." Her mother replied.
"I agree. Please just find her." Diana pleaded.
Day's later, Diana found herself going for therapy and eating a little as she reminded her mom of her promise.
As usual, she would sit and watch as the therapist tried to get her talking, and today wasn't any different. However, as she got home, her mouth opened agape at who sat in their dining room.
"I adopted her. I knew you would want to see her when you find out about her. So, after the incident with her father, I met with her before she was taken to the orphanage home. We spoke and I decided to adopt her." Diana's mother said with a smile.
Walking over to where the girl sat, Diana spoke, "I am sorry, he died because of me. I ruined your birthday and your life, I ruined..."
"No, you did not. If we are to blame anyone, then I should be blamed. After my mom died of ovarian cancer, my dad buried his face at work and hardly had time for me. So, I told him if he didn't celebrate my 13th birthday with me, I won't regard him as my father anymore.... and then I heard news of the accident."Delight spoke.
"But, I caused it." Diana replied.
"Fate happened, and so did life. There are things that have to happen for other things to occur. I am not mad at you. Instead, I am focusing on healing because I know my Dad would want that." Delight responded.
"Your words... They are so delightful... thanks for coming to stay." Diana said before hugging Delight.