As I slowly opened my eyes, the blinding light of the hospital room pierced through my haze, like a thousand needles stabbing my soul. My ears were ringing, and I could hear the faint sound of bells, but I wasn't sure if it was my imagination or reality. My mind was a jumbled mess of fragmented memories, and the last thing I recalled was the sound of screeching tires, the smell of smoke, the unshed tears in my mother's eyes, the sound of my father's voice fading away, and the feeling of weightlessness as our car soared through the air.
My name is Kaidaira Aethera Liminaria, and I've been through hell and back. Adopted at the age of seven, I finally found a sense of belonging with my new parents. But fate had other plans. The car crash took everything from me – my parents, my sense of security, and my innocence. As I lay in that hospital bed, surrounded by the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of machines, I couldn't help but wonder: What's left for me now?
The shards of glass that had once pieced together my life now lay shattered and broken, reflecting the fragments of my own shattered soul. I knew I had to pick up the pieces, to find a way to heal and move forward. But as I gazed up at the ceiling, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, with no lifeline in sight.
As I lay in that sterile hospital bed, the beeping of the machines and the antiseptic smell enveloping me, I felt suffocated by my own despair. My mind was a jumbled mess of memories, each one more painful than the last. The sound of my parents' voices, the warmth of their smiles, the comforting feel of their arms around me – all gone. The car crash had taken everything from me, leaving me with a hollow ache that seemed to grow with each passing moment.
I felt like I was drowning in a sea of anguish, unable to find a lifeline to cling to. My parents, my rock, my safe haven, were gone. The thought of facing the world alone, without their guidance and love, was a prospect too terrifying to contemplate. As the tears streamed down my face, I felt like I was losing myself, fragmenting into a thousand pieces that could never be put back together again.
Ten years ago, my birth parents left me at the orphanage when I was seven. They promised to return while taking my brothers home with them. I waited and waited for them at the doorstep, hopefully waiting for them to come back early. I left the orphanage doorstep to go and search for my parents. While trying to cross the road, I almost got hit by a car. The driver got out, along with the owner of the car. That was the first time I saw my mother, Mrs. Kiara Liminari. She got out of the car and walked over to her driver, smacking him across the face. She was about to shout at him for his carelessness when her gaze clashed with mine. She walked over to me to check if I was hurt. I was in a state of shock. She asked me about my parents, and I told her that they had left me at the orphanage. She took me home with her to meet her husband, Mr. Alexander Liminari. Ever since that day, she became my mother. Six months later, she formally adopted me.
I looked to my right and saw my aunts and uncle sobbing, trying to catch my attention. I couldn't help but smile faintly. I had been asking my parents to hold a family reunion, but whenever I brought it up, they always dismissed the idea, claiming that everyone was too busy. I couldn't help but find it ironic. They couldn't come together for family dinners, but they could come for hospital emergencies.
Have you ever felt like a spectator in your own body? That's how I feel right now. Everything feels like a dream. I feel like I'm floating in an abyss. I feel high, maybe it's the anesthesia speaking. I tried to move my lips, but I couldn't pry them open. It feels like my lips have been sealed up. Despite being in a room filled with people, I feel terribly lonely. It's just me and my subconscious.
I couldn't help but remember my first birthday party with my parents. It was turning eight. That day, she threw me a surprise birthday party. I was really not expecting it because earlier that day, nobody in the house wished me a happy birthday. I was so sad that I cried all day. Mom walked in on me crying. She asked me why I was sad, and I didn't say anything in response. I just buried my face in the crook of her neck and fell asleep shortly after. I can confidently say that that was one of the best sleeps of my life.
Mrs. Kiara had always treated me like a daughter, and for that, I will forever remain grateful to her. I remember waking up to her stroking my hair while smiling down at me softly. She kissed my cheeks and then carried me off the bed. She took me downstairs while holding my hands. I still remember asking her why all the lights in the mansion were off. She then told me that I would find out the answer soon enough.
When we got to the bottom of the stairs, the lights suddenly came on, and I heard them yell, "Surprise! Happy birthday, Kaidaira!" I was surprised to see the entire foyer decorated and filled with guests. That was one of the best birthday days of my life.
But alas, I should have known that good things never last.