Chapter 2 The Beginning of The End

Mia woke up to the sound of chirping birds outside her window. She rubbed her eyes and sat up straight, groaning at the headache that pounded against her temple. Memories of last night flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but smile at the thought of all the fun she had had with her friends.

She got out of bed, checking her phone for any messages. She saw several messages and missed several calls from her family and friends. Her mom, dad, brother, and uncle had all wished her a happy birthday, and she felt a pang of guilt for not answering their calls. She returned the calls to her family and responded to messages. Her mom, dad, and brother joined her video call and sang a birthday song for her.

Mia quickly showered and dressed herself, ready to make the most of her last day in Hawaii. Her flight and that of her friends were slated for that evening. She met up with her friends for breakfast, and they laughed and joked over plates of pancakes and bacon.

After breakfast, they hit the beach, swimming, tanning, and taking candid photos of each other. As the day wore on, Mia felt a sense of melancholy wash over her. She knew this would be the last time she would see her friends again for a while, as they all went to college.

She pushed those thoughts away, not wanting to dampen the mood. As the sun began to set, Mia's friends surprised her with their birthday presents. Katie had asked her to make another wish as she handed a small cake with candles to her she teased that the wish she had made the previous night was not enough as she was now officially an adult.

She closed her eyes and made a wish, blowing out the candles in one breath. "What did you wish for?" Shelby asked, grinning.

Mia shrugged, "I can't tell you that, it won't come true then," she joked.

They spent the rest of the day shopping for souvenirs for their family as they prepared 5o catch their flight. They had danced under the stars, sipping drinks and chatting with other vacationers the previous night. Mia felt carefree and happy, enjoying the warmth of the Hawaiian breeze, she was truly. going to miss this place.

Back home in the city, Mia's father, William, was involved in a ghastly accident. His car had lost brakes, and it somersaulted before going up in flames. He had been rushed to the hospital, where he fought for his life, his body covered in severe burns.

Dave, her father's loyal driver, was also in critical condition, and both men needed extensive medical treatment. The first responders had managed to get them to the hospital in time, but the extent of their injuries meant their chances of recovery were very slim.

Helena paced the hall of the hospital, tears streaming down her face. "I can't believe this is happening. Why did it have to be him?" she wailed, wringing her hands in despair.

Corey, Mia's younger brother, hugged her tightly, his face pale with shock. "We have to stay strong, Mom. Dad's a fighter, he'll make it through," he said, trying to inject some positivity into the depressing atmosphere.

Williams' brother, Richard, was at the hospital, his face etched with worry. "Has anyone called Mia yet?" he asked, looking around at the solemn group.

Helena shook her head, "No, we didn't want to worry her. She would return today, probably in the evening"

Richard reached for his phone, dialing Mia's number. He was surprised when it went straight to voicemail.

Mia and her friends settled comfortably in the luxurious first-class lounge at the airport, eagerly awaiting their flight back home. The soft evening light painted the surroundings with warm hues as they chatted and laughed, their excitement palpable. The clock showed that they still had 30 minutes before their departure. She was chatting happily with her friends when her phone rang, disrupting the joyous atmosphere. Her face turned serious as she saw her Aunt Nina's name on the screen,

"Hello?"

Aunt Nina responded with a trembling voice "Mia, I need to tell you something... your father had an accident."

Mia's heart sank, fear gripping her soul.

"Oh no, is he okay?" she asked anxiously.

"He's in critical condition, fighting for his life."

Mia's hands trembled, and her phone slipped from her grasp.

"What happened? Is everything okay?" Her friend Paula asked, placing a comforting hand on Mia's

shoulder.

Mia shook her head, unable to speak as she tried to compose herself. "It's my dad," she managed to choke out, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What's wrong with your dad?" Another friend, Shelby, asked, her concern evident in her voice.

"He's been in an accident," Mia said, her voice trembling.

"Is he okay?" Thelma asked, her own voice filled with worry.

Mia shook her head. "He's fighting for his life."

Her friends huddled around her, comforting her as best they could. Mia tried to calm down, but the fear and worry continued to gnaw at her.

"What can we do to help?" Shelby asked, rubbing Mia's back.

"I don't know," Mia said, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. "I need to call my mom and find out what's going on."

She fumbled with her phone, her fingers shaking as she dialed her mom's number.

"Hello?" Her mom's voice came through the other end, sounding tired and worried.

"Mom, what's going on with Dad?" Mia asked, her voice cracking.

"Sweetheart, I didn't want to tell you until you got back," her mom said, her voice trembling. "But your dad's been in an accident. He's undergoing surgery right now and we don't know how he's doing yet."

Mia's heart sank. "What kind of accident? How bad is it?"

"It was a car accident. Your dad and his driver were taken into surgery as soon as they arrived at the hospital. We're waiting for updates from the doctors," her mom said, her voice choking with emotion.

"I need to come home. I need to be there with you, I'm about to board my flight" Mia said, tears streaming down her face.

"I know, sweetheart. And we want you here with us. But your flight is leaving in just a few minutes. You can't make it back in time," her mom said, her voice filled with sorrow.

Mila felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She wanted to be there with her family, to support them in this difficult time.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted her thoughts. "Excuse me, Miss. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I'm the pilot of your flight and we've just received word that your flight has been delayed for at least two hours due to unforeseen maintenance issues. If you need to change your plans, we can arrange for you to disembark and book another flight."

Mia's heart leaped in her chest. A chance to be with her family, to be there for her dad when he needed her the most.

"I need to go home. Please, can you help me change my flight?" Mia asked, her voice pleading.

"Of course, Miss. Let me make some calls and see what I can do," the pilot said, his voice filled with compassion.

Mia felt a glimmer of hope as she started to make arrangements to change her flight. Her friends were by her side, supporting her every step of the way.

"You can do this. We'll be here for you," Kathie said, hugging Mia tightly.

Mia felt a sense of gratitude towards her friends. They had been there for her when she needed them the most.

As she made her way to the gate, Mia couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. She needed to be there for her family, to support her dad in his fight to recover.

As she boarded her new flight, her heart was heavy with worry and fear. She had no idea what was going to happen, but she knew that she had to be strong for her family.

Hours later, Mia landed in her home country; the U.S, tired and anxious. She rushed to the hospital, desperate for news about her dad.

She saw her mom waiting for her outside the hospital, tears streaming down her face, Mia knew that something was terribly wrong.

"What happened? Is dad okay?" Mila asked, her voice shaking.

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Your dad didn't make it," her mom said, her voice full of sorrow.

Mia felt her world crumble around her. Her dad, the pillar of strength in her family, was gone. She couldn't believe it.

She screamed "No, it can't be, Dad can't leave without saying goodbye to me"

She raced in the direction of the surgery room, trying to find her dad, she saw her Uncle standing in front of a room and she rushed in, dodging those who tried to stop her, she saw her dad's lifeless body on the hospital bed and she collapsed to the ground.

Over the next few days, Mia and her family grieved for their loss. They shared stories and memories about her dad, remembering the good times they had together.

Through it all, Mia felt grateful for the support of her friends. They had been there for her every step of the way, offering comfort and words of encouragement.

As time went on, Mia learned to cope with her loss. She would always cherish the memories she had of her dad, and she would always be grateful for the love and support of her family and friends.