I held my sister’s hand tightly as we plummeted to our deaths. Bullets rained down on us, but surprisingly none hit us. He must have terrible aim. I pulled Charlotte close by her hand and wrapped my arms around her. Twisting in the air, I made sure she wouldn’t take the impact. “I love you, Charlotte”

We hit the ground and then everything went black.

I woke up to someone shaking me. Charlotte looked at me with worry in her eyes. “Alex?..” She’d called me Alex instead of Alexander ever since she was a toddler. “Alex, please tell me you’re okay”

“I’m fine, just a few scratches.” My voice came out a weak scratchy whisper as I lied to her. I didn’t want her to worry, but truth was, I didnt’t know if I was okay. I felt a liquid piling up underneath my back I assumed was blood, but is must’ve not been quite visible yet. “Charlotte, go get help. Bring them back here.”

“What! No, are you crazy? I’m not going to leave you!” She shouted as tears started streaming down her face again.

“Damn it Charlotte, go! Run as fast as you can and get help!” I shouted at her when I regained enough of my voice. The hurt in her eyes was unbearable to watch as she got up. She bolted into the trees. My eyes were closing involentarily. I did my best to keep the open. Even someone who can’t tie their shoes should know not to let yourself sleep when in this state. I resorted to talking to myself to stay awake. Not anything interesting either. I swear the bears thought I was crazy doing this. Wait are there bears out here? Well, nothing I can do if there are.

“Doo da doe da dee da roo ba ba blacksheep” I said random things, begging the question, am I just unjured or have I gone insane too? I sound like I belong in an asylum. It must’ve not been enough, because before I could see anyone coming to my rescue, everything went black again.

The beeping of monitors woke me up. I was in a hospital bed. I felt bandages pressing against my body. Charlotte was sitting in a chair next to me. I saw our mom outside the room on call with someone while pacing back and forth. Charlotte saw me and her face lit up. “Alex!! You’re okay you’re really okay!” She hugged me tightly. “Mom! He’s awake!”

My mom rushed into the room and buried her teary-eyed face in my chest. “I’m so glad you’re okay my beautiful baby boy” She lifted her head off my chest and kissed me on the forehead. “”Everything’s going to be okay.”