"COME ON!" I groan, and tug on Lola's shirt sleeve. "IT'S MOMMA AND PAPA'S... THINGY!"

"ANNIVERSARY!" Lola corrects me, and slaps my hand away from her. "AND NOT GONNA HAPPEN!"

Three minutes later, after a LOT of pushing and negotiating:

"Fine, I'll go, but I get chocolate too." Lola relents, her arms crossed.

I nod eagerly.

We live in a more... 'city' area up in Montana.

Billings, Montana if we're going specifics.

We shout our family our goodbyes and bolt.

Our bikes making the gravel crunch with our speed.

After about five-fifteen minutes we get onto the street to the city.

We make it about five blocks away from our destination, but...

Suddenly Lola goes limp, and her bike swerves into a parking lot.

The sickening thud of her body hitting a car jolts me from my panicked freeze.

I bolt over to her and the driver of the car stammers out apologies.

I feel tears pouring out of my eyes.

His freaking words don't mean ANYTHING, it's already too late.

I had been the cause.

If I just hadn't made her go with me...

Minutes later Mom and Dad come rushing into the scene.

I face such a hard tongue-lashing from Ann that I'll never forget.

I hit my head against the door in a fit of... guilt? Grief? That I split my lip open and it needs stitches. But it's not the worst thing that happened today.

But Lola going into a coma...

I'll never forgive myself.