Chapter 2 – Tragedy in the Edwards family.

11th September 1999.

Seventeen years later. Sean and Michelle are living happily with their seven children. Matthew, 23 years, a tall young man like his father, built strong too. Andrew, 20 years, every day he is looking more and more like his mother. Zoey, 17 years, growing more beautiful by the day like her mother was at her age. Harold, 17 years, quite strong for his age and built well too. Arthur, age 10, a splitting image of his father as well. David, age 9, always trying to be like his father and his eldest brother Matthew and their youngest child, Little Ryan, age 5, a happy, friendly and a joyful little boy.

On this very day, The Edwards family are home and enjoying their time there. Everyone is doing which they please. Sean is working on his Toyota Camry, attempting to fix a leak coming from the engine, as the car seems to be leaking a lot of oil and Sean means to find where its coming from, the cause of this problem while Michelle and Zoey are preparing supper for everyone. Andrew and Arthur are watching the Liverpool match, while Harold and his best friend, Sebastian watches a bit of the match with his brothers and reads their comic books too, which is what made them good friends over the years.

While everyone is at home, Matthew took David and Ryan out for the day, to Anfield stadium in order to watch the Liverpool match which is against Manchester United. Matthew got three tickets for them but was unable to acquire any for the rest of his family since he lacked the funds and made a promise to his younger brothers, David and Ryan, which is why the rest of the Edwards family are watching the match at home.

Once the match is done, the final score of the match sees Liverpool lose 2 - 3 against Manchester United. Andrew and Arthur are sulking together at home while Harry and Sebastian are saddened that their team walked away the losers today. During the end of the match, Matthew informs David and Ryan, "It's time to head home. Mum and Zoey are preparing supper for us and we cannot be late, not again. Last time it was my fault and I apologise for that".

David responds, "Okay, Matt" while Ryan just says, "Okay, big brother" as the three of them gets into Matthew's Vauxhall Cavalier Mark I, to which Matthew drives them all home. On the way home, Matthew asks David and Ryan while they are sitting in the back of his car. He asks them, "Did you enjoy yourselves today and what did you thinking about Liverpool losing to Manchester United today?" David responds, "we enjoyed it, Matt. The day out as it was, was great and we really like you, big brother for taking us out for the day. Thank you so much".

Before Matthew can say anything, that he would always be there for them no matter what and do the best he can to be an elder brother for them, a drunk lorry driver smashes into the Vauxhall from the left rear of their vehicle, which causes it to spin out of control even though Matthew tries his best to keep it under control since the impact is too much that it causes the car to roll and eventually, it stops on its own wheel again.

Back at the Edwards residence, Michelle and Zoey are still busy preparing supper in the kitchen, right until the phone rings. Michelle answers it, by this point, Michelle does not say anything until she breaks into tears as she weeps over the news which she just received. Michelle hangs up the phone and takes a deep breathe. She instructs Zoey, "Could you please go and get your father, Zoey. It's an emergency and wait with your brothers and Sebastian while I discuss things with your father". Zoey without any questions, she walks off from the kitchen then runs to her father. As Zoey runs out of the kitchen in order to call her father, Sean. Zoey informs him, "Dad, dad. Mum is calling for you, dad. She's in the kitchen and says that it's an emergency and you should come right now".

Sean is concerned. He drops what he is doing as he rushes over to Michelle. When he arrives in the kitchen, he asks his wife, "What is going on, Shelley? Zoey said that you are calling me and that it's an emergency. Why? What is going on?". Michelle instructs Zoey, "Take your leave, Zoey. Go and sit with your brothers and Sebastian, dear. I need to talk with your father in private please" Zoey takes her leave while Michelle informs Sean about what happened, about the news which she received on the phone. Zoey leaves in order to sit with her brothers and Sebastian. Andy asks Zoey, "What's going on?". Zoey informs them, "I rally don't know, Andy. Mum received a phone call then she began to cry and I had to fetch dad but I'm not sure what is happening here, I swear to God".

Back in the kitchen, Michelle informs Sean, "Matt, David and Ryan were involved in a car accident while on the way here from the stadium". She continues to cry. Sean is stunned at hearing this news from his wife but he remains silent and calm. Michelle continues to inform Sean, "The accident was bad. A drunk drives crashed into the car. Matthew is okay but he has a bad concussion, a broken arm and three broken ribs" Michelle begins to cry even more while Sean asks her with a rather serious look on his face. He asks her, "What about David and Ryan? What about our other two sons?".

Michelle responds, "David and Ryan, our little boys, they never made it, Sean. They passed away on the spot, soon after the car stopped rolling. The emergency services report suggest that they broke their necks and had serious spine injuries as well. I am just glad that they passed without any suffering, thank God" as she begins to cry even more.

Sean approaches Michelle. He gives his wife a hug in order to comfort her. Michelle is going through a tough time and while Sean hugs Michelle, he tells her, "We should go to the hospital right now in order to see Matt then have a funeral service arranged for David and Ryan, in order for us to pay them their respects, and ours which is due to them" as Sean pats his wife on her back then let's go of her.

Sean approaches Andrew, calls him over to have a word with him in private. Andy approaches his dad. Sean whispers to him, "Get your car ready. You are taking us to the hospital. Matt, David and Ryan were involved in an accident. I'll explain everything once we get there, okay?" Andy nodes his head and everyone prepares for the trip towards the hospital.

The Edwards family with Sebastian, who is their adoptive son, they make their way towards the hospital in order to see Matthew. He's still unconscious when they arrive, and as they arrive at the hospital, Andy, Zoey, Harry, Arthur and Sebastian learns the truth, about David and Ryan not making it. Andy gets extremely upset, over his little brothers passing away as he storms off because he is extremely angry over what happened. Zoey and Harry embrace each other as they cry together since it's sad to lose their youngest brothers while Arthur embraces his mum and cries on her shoulder because David and Ryan were only little boys, their little brothers while Sebastian just stands there and cries too since David and Ryan were like brothers to him after after he was taken in by Sean and Michelle.

18th September 1999.

A week has passed since the accident occurred, right now, the funeral service for David and Ryan Edwards is happening today. All of the family members, friends and neighbours are gathered and came to attend the funeral in order to pay their respects to the little Edwards boys. The person which feels the most guilt, pain deep down and sadness than the rest of his family is Matthew. He feels guilty that he survived the accident while little David and Ryan passed away. Matt also feels that it was unfair that God took them away yet he survived the crash but he soon realises that this was all part of God's plan, as that's what his mother has been teaching him and the rest of his siblings for many years for as long as he can remember, it had to be and there must have been a reason why he survived and they didn't. Something which he has to find out himself.

David and Ryan are laid to rest within the ground as the priest gives them their final rights and preaches to God in order to bless them and send their souls to Heaven and gives them their rest as well, to which everyone else heads home afterwards, for the lunch at the Edwards residence. Harry tries his utmost best to be there for Matt, however Matt is giving everyone, including him the cold shoulder and silent treatment due to David and Ryan passing away. Matt just spends the entire day in his room, smoking whenever he can and not having anything to eat nor drink and not seeing nor talking with anyone as Matthew is thinking about things while he is in his room.

21st September 1999.

Three days later. The Edwards family are wondering where Matt is the entire day since he wasn't in the house nor at any place in the Neighbourhood since nobody has seen him for three days and everyone is worried about him and his whereabouts. While looking through things in Matthew's room, Harry finds a note, written by Matt since Harry recognises his hand writing.

The Letter reads;

"Dear beloved family and respective friends and neighbours. It's been a hard week and three days for me since the car accident and the funeral and I couldn't take the pressure nor the guilt anymore, over what happened to David and Ryan and them passing away while I survived. Therefore, I've decided that it's best that I leave home, for now and take some time alone to clear my guilt and my mind from being the one which caused David and Ryan to lose the one thing which was most precious to them, their lives. See you some time and until we meet again, Matt".

The letter is read by Sean, as he reads it out to his family which are present in the living room, which includes Michelle, Andy, Zoey, Harry, Arthur and Sebastian.

... To be continued...