Page 7 of Xander

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“Tonight is the banquet for your father’s company.” She said.

“Can I come?” I asked.

She looked at me, then asked, “Can you get ready in five minutes?”

I smiled as I nodded and raced to my room.

It took me seven minutes, but seeing my father’s smile and then my mom’s, it was worth it.

***

“Dang, but the food this time was great,” My father said as he drove us home.

My mother giggled, “Last time we got food poisoning.”

I snickered, recalling that vividly over FaceTime.

They had both been pale and green, hugging the toilet.

I had wanted to come home and help them, but at the time, they had thought it was a virus, so they told me to stay at school.

“I’m so full,” I moaned from the back seat.

And then...

Lights.

Tires.

Squeals.

And then.... nothing.

***

Blue lights.

Red lights.

People screaming.

Pain.

Burning.

Charred.

***

My senses didn’t know which way was up.

Shooting pain.

Blissful numbness.

White walls.

Beeping.

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