FFM 2 2017 - Parallels

Danielle stood in front of her car, completely at a loss as to why she was there.

***

Dani slumped against her car, trying to reach what she’d left on the driver’s seat.

***

Danielle stared at the driver’s seat. Did she leave something on the driver’s seat?

***

It was no good. Dani collapsed, breathing hard.

***

Danielle glanced at her phone in her hand. Nope, she obviously had her phone. What was it that she needed?

***

“Oh my god! Are you okay?” her friend Kiara’s voice shouted from the street at Dani. Dani, breathing like a winded horse, was clearly not okay.

***

“Danielle! Are you ready?” Kiala shouted from the street. Danielle glanced up to see Kiala had pulled up already and here she was, standing around like an idiot.
“Uh, yeah, yeah I’m ready!” she said, walking over to their car.

***

Dani was going into respiratory arrest but managed to walk to the ambulance with Kiara’s help.

***

Danielle got into the car, still puzzled.
“You look like you forgot something,” Kiala said.
“I think I did but I can’t remember,” Danielle said.
“Purse? Medicine? Doesn’t bad asthma run in your family?” Kiala asked.
“Yes, but I didn’t get it. I got lucky. I’m the only one in my family who doesn’t have asthma.”
“Okay, so we’re good. Party time! Big three-oh!”

***

Dani spent her birthday in the hospital, recovering from a severe asthma attack. She figured she was lucky, though. At least she was the only one in her family who didn’t have an enlarged heart. Everyone else in her family had had a heart replacement or suddenly died by the age of 30.