Chapter One

This is the first chapter of a story that I am writing. If you happened to miss the Prologue it can be found here. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter One
(Three Months Later)

“Mommy.” Kaleigh said slowly and politely from the back seat of the van.
“Yes, Kaleigh?”
“Mom, I thought Doctor Garrison said that you aren’t allowed to drive when you are this pregnant.”
Alexa sighed, of course her daughter was right but being a single parent there was no way around driving. “I know sweetie, but I have to drive right now, if I don’t you won’t make it to your school.” Kaleigh stuck out her tongue in a do-I-have-to-go-to-school way.
It was 8 o’clock in the morning, and Kaleigh was late for school, which started promptly at 8. Alexa being well aware of this started to drive a little faster than normal. The two sat in silence listening to the sound of the radio playing the latest hit song ‘If I were gone’. It wasn’t a very cheerful song but it had a catchy rhythm. The song ended and the announcer came on “Hey everyone that was Imagine with their new hit song ‘If I were gone’ and now to our phone lines…hello you’re on the air would you like to request a song.”
The voice of a young woman answered, “yes, I would like to hear ‘If I were gone’ by Imagine.”
The announcer paused then with a sigh he said alright here it is…” The song started to play and Alexa groaned. Looking down at the radio she hit a few buttons to change to another channel.
“Ahh” Kaleigh screamed at the top of her lungs. “Mom look out.” Alexa looked up and saw a huge bus headed right towards them, she swerved but it was too late. Chaos followed. The bus hit the car and fell onto the front end of it. Two other cars crashed into the bus unable to stop in time. Within several minutes the sound of several ambulances, and police cars could be heard. And amidst all the confusion and noise a little girl sat in the back of a crushed car saying, in the loudest voice she could manage (which was little more than a whisper) Mom? Mom, are you ok, how’s the baby? Then there was silence as the little girl blacked-out.
(10 hours later)
“Kaleigh, sweetie, wake up now. Come on Kaleigh.” Kaleigh opened her eyes and saw only a blur of a few people, her arm was wrapped up in a sling, and her head was pounding.
Kaleigh tried to lift her head but she didn’t have enough strength. She could feel someone holding her hand, the hand that was not in the sling. Thoughts were rushing through her head. ‘Where am I? Who is holding my hand? Is that my mom? What am I doing here? What happened?’ She asked herself these questions and found that she knew none of the answers. Her vision was starting to clear up and she started to recognize some of her surroundings. Blinking several more times and panning the room she realized that she was in a hospital. There was a curtain drawn around her bed and there were three people with her. The one person could be recognized as a nurse; she had an ID badge on with her picture and her name ‘Anna Pierce’. She was adding more water to an IV attached to Kaleigh’s wrist and smiling sympathetically at the obviously hurt and confused patient. “I’m glad to see your awake sweetie,” the nurse said in a soft, calm voice.
“Wh…what happened.” Kaleigh managed to whisper.
The nurse looked down at Kaleigh, “You were involved in a car crash,” the nurse said, “but I bet your visitors could tell you a little more about it.”
The nurse, now finished with the IV, walked out of the room and closed the door. Kaleigh turned her head slightly so she was facing the other two people in the room. One was a man approximately 64 the other was a young woman aged about 31. The man was wearing a dull gray suit, with his hair slicked back, and he was holding a briefcase full of papers, and folders. The woman was wearing a red blouse, and black skirt; she had blonde shoulder length hair, and a bit too much makeup. After Kaleigh stared at them for several moments with no one saying a word the man introduced himself, “Hello Kaleigh,” he said in a sympathetic voice, “My name is Mr. Kroyer, I am…I was your mothers lawyer, and I am here to help you.” The man glanced over at the woman who had a rather solemn look on her face, and then looking back at Kaleigh he sighed and continued to speak. “Earlier this morning your car crashed into a bus, the bus fell over onto your car, no one on the bus was hurt but when the police started to pull you and your mother out of the car it was evident that the two of you were in a fairly bad condition. You and your mother were rushed into an ambulance and brought you here; the doctors were able to fix you up fairly well…” he paused uncomfortably as Kaleigh realized what he was about to say. “Kaleigh your mothers lungs and heart were punctured by the glass from the windshield and she was not able to be revived, she died 2 hours ago.”
Tears filled Kaleigh’s eyes, her mother the only family she had ever known was gone. Kaleigh tried to fight through the tears but it was useless, devastation had set in. “Where am I going to go then?” I have no other family.”
The woman in the red blouse leaned over and hugged Kaleigh comfortingly, that’s why I’m here sweetie,” she said quietly. “My name is Danielle Terace, you can call me Dani. I’m the assistant to the head mistress at Central Park Orphanage for girls. And that is where you will stay for the present.” Tears were still streaming from Kaleigh’s face but knowing that she was not to be thrown into the streets was comforting.
“Mr. Kroyer?” Kaleigh started shyly, “What about the baby?”
Mr. Kroyer smiled, he was glad he had some news for Kaleigh that wasn’t completely devastating. “Your mothers baby, while extremely premature, survived and is now being taken care of by the hospitals staff, she will join you in the Orphanage eventually though don’t worry about that. Kaleigh forced a smile through the tears; “Baby Tiffany is safe, good.” After saying this she closed her eyes and drifted into a troublesome sleep.

Luv ya all!