Chapter 0: The Beginning

The night of the accident was windy and rainy.

Hannah looked out the window and admired the new keychain her mother and father had given her just after dinner. The three were heading home after a full meal. Everyone was tired and in a good mood.

"Do you like the new keychain, Hannah?" Hannah's mother asked, pleased. Her black hair shined in the sunlight and her cool blue eyes sparkled down at Hannah. Quickly, Hannah nodded her head while admiring the cute white kitten keychain. The keychain had her name carved into it with a message that said, 'Love'.

Hannah was happy. It was her 14th birthday and she couldn't hold in her excitement. She giggled in the back seat as her mother tickled her feet. Her mother smiled and laughed. Her father smiled but stayed focused on his driving.

Suddenly, a fast-moving car sped around the corner and the driver found himself losing control. Hannah felt like time passed by extremely fast because one second her mother and father were smiling and laughing along with her, and now they lay quiet upside down.

Hannah's head hurt and she squeezed the keychain. Before thinking she immediately unbuckled herself and slammed into the roof of the car. She shook her father who slowly opened his eyes in a haze. She then shook her mother. When there was no response she quickly unbuckled her and laid her down as gently as she could. She then dragged her mother out of the car. She was bombarded by paramedics who then picked up her mother and put her on a stretcher. She looked back to see her father dragging his limp legs out of the car. She raced to help but before she could reach him a few adults came to his aid.

Everything had happened super fast, and before she knew it, Hannah had collapsed on the floor with the memory of her parents' smiles and the red car that had crashed into them.

<2 years later>

Ever since the day of her mother's death, Hannah had tried to work as many jobs as she could and get good grades in school to support her father. Her father became depressed and short-tempered resulting in many bar fights. It was only until her father lost his job that he realized that he needed to pull himself together.

"Dad! I'm home!" Hannah yelled as she took off her shoes. She walked in the kitchen to find her dad with his head in his palms.

"Dad?! What's wrong?" Hannah asked very concernedly. She glanced down at the papers in front of her father. They were yellow slips that said 'eviction' in bold letters. They couldn't pay rent and their landlord was a stickler.

Her father sighed, "Don't worry. It may not be ideal but I have found a job. We will be moving in a few days."

Hannah was shocked. How could her father not tell her? She could have helped more at the local gym or kids martial arts program. She thought of all the side jobs she could have taken. Her face became pale. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Why...?" Hannah sniffled.