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into the back of the car, trying to shield her babies.
    The impact was massive and stunning. Claire had never felt anything like it before. Even with her seatbelt on, Claire was thrown forward with alarming force.
    She tried to brace herself as the car began to roll, flipping from top to bottom as if it were one of Luke’s toy cars he’d kicked down the hill in their backyard.
    Claire could hear the kids, who’d clearly been awakened by the crash, begin to cry out in fear. She wanted to tell them it was okay, that they’d all be okay, but somehow all she could do was scream, too.
    And then, as suddenly as it began, the tumbling, and all the cries, ended with extreme force.
    â€œUh…uh…” Claire moaned.
    Slowly, with deliberate effort, Claire opened her eyes. Where was she and why did she feel like she was upside down?
    The car. Claire suddenly remembered and her body tensed. Looking around her, she could see very little in the dark. Reaching out, she felt for her window. There was nothing there.
    â€œJack,” Claire called out. “Are you okay?”
    She heard nothing. No noise at all.
    â€œLuke… Ella…Lily?!” Claire cried, louder. “Can you hear me? Are you all right?”
    The silence pounded in her ears.
    She quickly turned to her left, trying to catch a glimpse of Jack, but something was in between them? A piece of metal? She wasn’t really sure. She tried to push it away, but it wouldn’t move. Twisting her head as far as she could, she attempted to look behind her. Where were her kids? She couldn’t see anyone or anything. It was as if the car had caved in around her.
    She struggled to undo her seatbelt with one hand, while using her other hand to stabilize herself on the roof the car. She was fairly certain she was hanging upside down and didn’t want to fall on her head when she undid the buckle. The belt caught on something as she clicked the button and it began to retract. She twisted her body, feeling a pressure in her abdomen as she worked the belt loose. When she was finally free, she pulled herself through a hole where the car window used to be and onto the ground. She sat there for a moment, gasping for breath. Every inhale took effort.
    â€œJack!” Claire called. “Where are you? Can you hear me?”
    The car’s headlights shone on the trees in front of it, but other than that, it was pitch-black. Claire stepped back a few feet, trying to get a better view of the car and where everyone might be.
    Her stomach flew into knots as vomit raced into her throat. The car. If that’s even what it was, and it must be, because she’d just crawled out of it. But it no longer looked like the minivan they’d all piled into for their journey. It was now a twisted piece of metal, turned upside down and bent around a large oak tree.
    Where were her babies in that mess?
    â€œOh, God. Jack! Luke! Answer me! Are you okay?” Claire began to scream as she moved around the van, trying to find an entry inside. Why couldn’t she find them?
    â€œHelp! Somebody help!” Claire’s voice was becoming hysterical. “Ella! Lily! Are you okay? Answer Mommy!”
    Claire was so focused on locating her family she didn’t hear the sirens or see the people as they rushed down the embankment towardher. As she clawed at the hot metal— why was it so hot? —she felt a hand on her arm. Thank God, she thought.
    â€œHelp me! Please, help! My family’s in that car. Please! Get them out!”
    â€œMa’am,” a deep voice said. “You need to get back. We’ll take over from here.”
    Get back? What was he talking about? She couldn’t leave this spot until her family was out of the car.
    â€œNo!” Claire spat at him. “I need my family.”
    â€œMa’am, you need to back up. The car’s on fire. Let us do our job.”
    On fire? What? How could it be on fire? Her kids