Cover Design by Jack Collins at Gossamer Publishing
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Author’s website: https://abigaildenver.com
Twelve year old, Hannah is a normal girl, as far as anyone can see. She likes to swim and enjoys playing computer games. When she starts to have visions of the world ending, and how she can prevent it from happening, she doesn’t really want to prevent it. Why should she give up her life to save the world? How can she possibly convince people she’s not crazy?
Prologue
Hannah stumbled out of her bedroom, rubbing her eyes and crying. She ran straight to her mother who was sitting on the couch reading a book. Her cry was startling. Hannah rarely cried, and when she did, it meant she was hurt. “What is it, baby?”
Hannah whimpered. “The police are coming. Grandpa’s dead.” She rested her head on her mother’s shoulder and sobbed.
Leah looked down at the tiny blond head. Hannah was only three, and had never acted this way. “Grandpa’s fine, honey. I talked to him an hour ago.” Her father had called on his way out of town. He had a convention in Dallas and had called to let her know he was on his way. Leah was extremely close to her father, and had almost daily contact with him.
“Car wreck.” Hannah shook her head. “Go to the door,” she sobbed.
Leah looked at her daughter with a confused look on her face. What was she talking about? She tried to soothe her again, but the doorbell rang. As soon as it rang, Hannah’s screams escalated. Leah looked down at her little girl. “You stay here. I’ll get the door.”
She opened the door, just enough to see out. Two police officers stood on her front steps. Leah covered her mouth, trying to hide her shock. “May I help you?”
The taller, and older of the police officers said, “May we come inside, Mrs. Long?”
Leah opened the door wide and led them inside. The older officer took a seat on the couch beside her, while his partner sat in the recliner. “I’m Officer James and this is my partner, Officer Stevens. I’m sorry to inform you, your father is dead.”
Leah’s tears started to fall. She looked down at her baby girl who was still sobbing, her chest rising and falling. “How did it happen?”
“There was a car accident on I-20 just west of Fort Worth. He was hit by an eighteen wheeler. The driver fell asleep at the wheel.” Officer James paused. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Leah nodded slowly. “Thank you.”
They spent another few minutes discussing the pertinent details of where his body was, and when she could have a funeral home pick it up. After the officers left, Leah turned to her baby girl. “How did you know?”
Hannah looked at her mother with wide, frightened blue eyes. “I saw him. And I saw the police. Inside my head.”
As a psychiatrist, Leah was aware of other instances where people had visions of loved ones dying. She hated the fact it had happened to her baby, but she wasn’t shocked. They’d do some testing on her and hope it never happened again.
She called her husband, Ryan, at work. He had pulled the weekend shift at the hospital where he worked in the ER. “You need to come home. My daddy just died in a car accident.”
As soon as he arrived, she explained how everything had happened. They both stared at their baby, hoping against hope something like this would never happen again.