Hey guys this is a short that will branch out from the Veronica and Vanessa Merrell Short Story "Just a Memory" so if you haven't seen that go check it out! So anyways here's the short!

Warning; this is a real life situation. This happens almost constantly.

A night in 2018
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"Yo, bro can you hand me that soda," Collins asked as he had both hands on the steering wheel. Devan sat in the passenger seat next to him and glanced down at his feet and grabbed a Sierra Mist, handing it to his brother, "Here." The boys were on their way to a Meet and Greet out of town and they were both excited to go, however they were exhausted. It was now 7:30 and they still had a ways to go. The older one let out a yawn, and the other smirked, "Already tired, I see." Collins glanced at his brother and playfully rolled his eyes, "Hey, I'm sorry I stayed up a little longer last night than usual.."

"Yeah, with Roni..," Devan said with a smug grin. Collins and Veronica Merrell have been dating for a while now, for about four months to be exact. The younger one was thrilled for the two, however; the couple have been spending a lot of time together and that excluded Devan. He missed just hanging out with Collins without him leaving to meet up with Veronica. But since he wanted to be a supportive brother, he kept his aching heart a secret. This was important to Collins, and I can't step in their way.

When the young boy mentioned the merrell twin, the boyfriend began to grow a glowing red, "Oh, yeah..," he continued to watch the road feeling his crimson face creep across his cheeks, "I need to talk to you about something, Dev..." Once he felt his brother become serious, Devan changed to a worried expression, "Sure, anything, Collins." He watched his brother closely and the older one spoke, "Well, I know I've talked to you about this before but that was months ago. Things have been changing for me lately and—well..," his straight face shifted to a big smile, "I want to ask Roni to marry me."

Devan was shocked yet almost expected it. Collins was head over heels for Veronica, and he was pretty sure she was the same way.  He was happy for his brother but he couldn't help feel hurt. He knew that it was crazy but this meant Collins is just gonna devote more time to Roni, and not him. To be supportive, he just plasters a grin on his face, "Wow..Collins that's-that's great!" Collins raised an eyebrow, "You think she'll say yes?" Devan nodded, turning his head away towards the window, "Of course, why wouldn't she?"

His foot began to fidget and he heard Collins ask, "What's wrong?" The younger brother looked back at him and said, "What? Nothing's wrong." Collins's glanced at him and continued, "I know you, Devan. When you start fidgeting, it means you're hiding something. What's up?" He knows me so well, Devan thought with a sigh, "It's just...you've been putting in so much time with Roni that—," he stopped, "it's stupid."

"Come on, bro. Please tell me.." Devan felt his palms begin to sweat, "Well, ever since you've dated Roni, I feel like you only want to spend time with her..and not me," he sighed, "It's selfish, I know. If you want to be with Roni, I'm going be your number one fan..I-I just.." the younger one gave up trying to explain and shut his mouth.

Hearing this, Collins frowned a little. He didn't want his brother feeling this way. He smiled a little, "Hey, who said I don't want to hang out with my best friend?" Devan looked up at him and he continued, "I never realized you felt this way. I thought you were okay with me spending more time with Roni, I guess I should've been more observant. I'm sorry bro, I want you to be able to talk to me about this. Don't keep your thoughts in because usually you're right," he smirked at him, "I love you Dev." Devan perked up a little and just smiled without a reply.

Collins looked back at the road and his eyes widened, "HOLD ON!!" Devan couldn't react quick enough when—BAM. A car crashed into their vehicle, causing the brothers to have the car serve uncontrollably, screeching across the road and flip over across the grass into a tree in the shrubs.

Pain. Pain was all Devan could feel at that moment. Sharp stinging from his legs, especially his left. The pull of his seatbelt tightened his breathing even more. He was in a panic as he sat there in the darkness. It was pitch black, time moved slow, it was silent but the pulse in his head from the throbbing. The boy looked down and saw shards of glass across the dash board and on his lap. Then, a trickle of blood began to seep from his forehead and down his face. He moaned as the discomfort grew within seconds. What happened? Did they crash? Then a thought came into his mind, Collins.

Devan twisted his neck towards where his brother sat and his breathing halted. There, sat Collins. Lifeless. Blood caked his face and glass was spilled over his body from the broken window next to him. The younger one couldn't process it for a second until it hit him like a ton of bricks. He's gone. "C-Collins," Devan's voice struggled to word, he was shaking too much, "C-Collins, answer me!" Nothing. He remained in the same state.

"Collins!! Please don't do this," Devan quivered out, reaching to touch his brother, "not now..say something!" No words, just the distant sound of cars on the highway. Tears began to force out of the young boy's eyes, he creaked his neck in all directions, "SOMEONE HELP!! MY BROTHER—PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!" No one came, it would do no good anyway. He was gone, forever and Devan couldn't prevent it. "Please...don't leave me!! Please...," a steam of tears fell down the brother's cheeks, "I love you..."

Devan stared at his older brother for a long time until he was unable to as the tears blurred his vision. His skinny stature shriveled in his seat and he cried out in sorrow. His heart pounded on his chest, his lungs hurt, he couldn't breathe.

Numb. Numb was what Devan became as the ambulance soon came. The rescue men with blinding lights broke into the car and pulled him carefully out, his legs burning in the process. Without question, they placed him on a stretcher and put him into the truck. Devan just watched his brother lay inside the car, dead. Thoughts began to invade his brain, but they soon dispersed when his mind went black.

{Time Skip}

"Mr. Key....? ....he's awake..." Devan heard the doctor speak above him. His eyes squinted as another bright light crossed his face, his pupils focusing to the lighting. He felt himself want to get up but he couldn't. Everything ached on his body. He couldn't feel his legs.

"Listen to me, do you remember your name?" The man with a white robe said to him.

"Devan..Devan Key," he spoke, feeling his voice come out raspy. He tried to swallow but it felt as his throat were clogged. A pounding came from his head from stitches they had done to his forehead, but the boy tried to ignore it.

Soon the doctor stopped his movements and stared at the young one, "..Do you remember anything from the accident, Devan?" Immediately, the word "accident" triggered his memory back to the crash. Flashes of glass and blood came back, Collins... His breathing quickened and his heart began to pound harder. The screaming his head grew and it wouldn't stop...

A tear left his eye and trickled down his bruised cheek. "I'm sorry, your brother was pronounced dead over an hour ago. We found there was no pulse. He must have died from the impact of the crash." Devan let the news sink in and take hold again. Please don't let it be true..please please don't take him away from me.

"Your parents were notified and they are on their way...," the man paused and spoke, "Sadly we found the driver of the other vehicle had been hungover. They will be paying the price in prison. Collins had a big life ahead of him, he will be missed." The boy nodded unable to say a word, his crying was too overpowering. Then the doctor told him in the crash, the front of the car bent forward and smashed his legs. They were both broken but luckily enough he could begin treatment in a few weeks to a month, however; his bones won't heal 100% normal again. Devan didn't care. Treatment couldn't get his brother back.

A few nurses came into the room and put the boy into a wheelchair. Excruciating pain came from Devan's limbs but nothing could be as painful as losing his best friend. Then he realized the doctor had given him his phone. How could his phone survive and his brother can't? A thought came to his mind, I was supposed to call Nessa. How many hours has it been? Soon he thought; How could I tell the girls about Collins..? He shuttered when his emotions got the best of him again. This was going to be hard, but he had to do it.

Slowly, Devan raised his phone up to his ear after dialing his girlfriends number;

'Hey Dev!'

"...Nessa, can the whole family come to the phone?"

'I'm confused. Why-."

"-Just please do it, Vanessa," Devan closed his eyes as irritation washed through him.

'What's wrong?' That was Roni. Devan felt horrible of the news he would have to give to her especially.. Collins loved her, and she did too. Nessa sounded as if she was growing worried, 'I don't know, get mom and dad.' It took about a few minutes to get their parents but they all huddled over the phone, now on speaker. 'We're all here, Devan. What do you have to tell us?'

Finally he did speak but in a more chilling tone, "...On our way to one of our meet and greets, Collins and I got into a car accident. A mini van hit our front, driver side and flipped the car over.. I was shook up but—," a croak came out of Devan's vocals and there was frightful sniffling once looked down at his legs, "I was fine and taken to the hospital..b-but Collins died instantly.."

The last sentence lingered in the air. Veronica's response could be heard from the background, 'W-What?' Devan spoke again, evident he was in tears, "Collins...is gone. I'm s-sorry..." The pain was unbearable.

Vanessa spoke very bewildered over the phone, 'Oh my gosh, Roni...RONI!!!!' Devan couldn't hear his girlfriends screams. He was hyperventilating, his lips quivered, tears rushed down without stop. The pain wouldn't leave, it would never leave.

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Hey guys, I'm sorry this is sort of depressing. It's something we all need to be aware of. You aren't promised a tomorrow. Someone you love could disappear in a instant. Be happy for what you have and don't take it for granted.

I'm sorry I haven't updated. So many things have been happening lately and it's been really hard. If you wanna find out more about you can pm me.

But anyways; What do you guys think? What are your thoughts? Any feedback or opinions? Please vote and comment your thoughts cause I love hearing from you guys! Love you all!