Broken

I knew I shouldn't have gone out that day. I knew I shouldn't have tried to do that trick. I knew the big risk I was taking but did I listen? No, I didn't. I was about 12 years old when my life-threatening accident happened. I grew up as someone who never really experienced pain or hardship. So when I first found out what lying on a hospital bed, unable to physically do anything meant, I struggled. It was hard in the first 2-3 months. My injury was caused during a bombing in the ocean when I was surfing near an abandoned cove. No one was there except me and only my sister knew where I was. I wish it had never happened.

I woke up on the 17th of July at 6:00 in the morning. I had gotten a new board for my birthday and I couldn’t resist trying it out. I gobbled down some toast as fast as I could and grabbed my board and leg rope. I know I should've checked the weather for surfing or even just checked the news. Maybe then I would’ve known that everyone was advised to stay home and be under protection and maybe then my parents wouldn’t have died. I hurriedly packed my bag and raced outside to grab my bike. I paused at the bottom of the staircase and turned around and went back inside. I scribbled a note and taped it to my sister’s door. Then I raced outside where I had left the door open. I swung onto the bike and pedaled as fast as I could to the opening of the cove. 

When I reached the cove, I parked my bike at the bike rack and headed inside the opening of the cove with my board under one arm and my bag under the other. As soon as I was inside, I dropped my bag a few metres from the sea and ran in. The water was surprisingly warm and the sand underneath was colder than usual as if no one had been there for a long time. It was all very strange but I had taken no notice. I grabbed my board and paddled until I was very far out and where the more dangerous waves were for the advanced surfers. The board wasn’t my size and it was bigger so I was careful. I lay on the board, keeping one eye in the sky. I spotted a speck of something but I couldn’t make out what it was. I kept an eye out for it but it soon disappeared. I gave up looking so I closed my eyes. I was vigilant to not fall asleep but I was starting to drift.

A few minutes later a bang rang next to my ear. I sat bolt upright glancing warily around me. I spotted something that resembled a spark disappear into the murky water. Now I was worried. I tried to paddle but my left leg felt like it was on fire. I was in shock and my mind turned completely blank and all thoughts of rescuing myself was gone. I needed help and fast. Unfortunately it was only 7:30 in the morning and no way had my sister woke up so no one knew where I was. I tried paddling with my arms but I was too weak. I gave up and soon just started counting the seconds. It might take a while but someone would find me eventually, I hoped. If my parents have woken up, they might see my note taped on my sisters door and know where to find me.

I glanced at my waterproof watch and stared in disbelief. What seemed like hours had only been a couple of minutes. I buried my face in my board and immediately regretted it seeing as my face and hair were soaking wet. I tried playing eye spy but there isn’t any use by yourself. I was so bored and started playing with the water making little splashes, when I heard a shout, “Caitlin! There you are!”

I glanced up and recognized that voice. It was Dad and Mum standing next to him. My sister was lazily standing next to them, holding tightly to Mum’s hand. “Don’t move! I’ll come get you,”

I nod. I hadn’t realized the water had risen and become rough. Dad stepped in and so did Mum and they were both immediately sucked in and swallowed underwater. 

My sister, Katie nervously sucked on her thumb as she watched. She was only 9 at the time.
I cried out but I never got a response. My mum’s hand was the last glimpse of them that I could ever remember.
Now I was starting to panic. Katie was just standing there, looking completely bewildered at what was going on.
“Katie! Get mum's phone out of her bag and call emergency services!” I yelled.
Katie hesitated for a few seconds before running and dialing the number. I couldn’t hear what she was saying.
Katie gave me a thumbs up before running to the opening of the cove.

I felt very relieved and was starting to loosen up. My left leg still felt like it was on fire. I started splashing the water when a droplet hit my left leg. It stung really bad and I cried out in pain. I really wanted my parents.
I swung my head into the water (careful not to drop any water onto the burning pain). I couldn’t see anything but I did see a glimpse of a sparkle. Mum was wearing her sparkly bracelet and ring! I tried to paddle a little closer when another bang vibrated the sea. I gazed up and a huge bomb was raining down. I had never felt more scared in my life.
Thankfully, that’s when the emergency services had come. They brought a large dinghy and someone towed my surfboard and me back to shore. They also checked my leg and I was brought into a hospital in an ambulance. 

Katie was sent to my aunties house for a couple of months while I was in hospital. Sadly, they uncovered Mum and Dads bodies under the water. They died rescuing me. I didn’t get out of hospital until the 17th of October. My leg was completely better but now I had other problems. I had to look after Katie, not to mention cook. So we had to move to stay in with Aunt Laura and switch schools. It worked well because Aunt Laura is Katie’s favourite aunt so she has been less of a brat. 
I guess I could say it ended well. The bombs were due to the fact that planes carrying high risk bombs had flown above the cove and dropped the bombs. The police are still investigating if it was purposeful or accidental. I wouldn’t say it ended well but it ended okay.

Change

Before The French Revolution, in 1788 (a year before everything changed), the aristocrats ruled France.

There was once a very rich man. His name was Andre. He was related to Queen Marie Antoinette and was her cousine, his grandfather being her great-uncle. If you continued to follow the family line, Andre was supposed to be King now but his grandfather abdicated to marry his grandmother. Andre bitterly hates the Queen, even though, thanks to the Queen, he was living like an aristocrat.

Down the streets from the Palace of Versailles,  a group of paysannes (peasants) wasn't living the best life ever. They had to scavenge for food in the garbage of the aristocrats, which meant they were trespassing. They had filthy, ripped clothes and hardly every had baths. The youngest peasant was Henri and he and his father, Jacques, had a home, if you could call it. Jacques was the same age as Andre and Henri was the same age as Andre's son, Louis.

The peasants and the aristocrats never crossed paths. Everyone outside of France, thought that the aristocrats would help the peasants but no one ever did. But the aristocrats never knew what happened outside palace walls, which is why the French Revolution started.

Henri had stolen enough coins to get some nourriture (food) from the market to bring back to her father and the other peasants. Unbeknownst to him, Louis had broken out of the palace walls and ran to the market too to have an adventure. He had taken some peasants clothing off a laundry line.

Henri reached the bread stall and offered a few coins in exchange for a few pieces of bread. He didn't notice the boy in similar clothes to him hiding behind the next stall, following him.

That boy was Louis. He had noticed Henri and wanted to know what he was doing and Louis wasn't positive but he thought he recognized him.

Henri was of course, not a typical peasant boy. Some peasants were 'richer' than them meaning had more talents in thievery. Jacques was one of them and being the son of one of the greatest peasant thieves meant people were cautious around you. So going to the market was sometimes exhausting.

The woman manning the bread stall eyed Henri," Excusez-moi Monsieur, but are you sure you are droite (right) there?"

"Oui!" Henri snapped. "I'm buying your bread, you should be reconnaissante (grateful), or I will go to the next stall,"

"Pardon me, Monsieur," The Woman bowed. 

"Just because my father is Jacques, does not mean you have to be grossiere (rude)," Henri snaps at the woman.

He leaves some coins, snatches the bread and heads back to his 'house'.

Louis follows Henri, hiding behind trees. Before long, Henri gets a feeling that he is being followed. He turns around suddenly and spots Louis.

"Monsieur!" Henri yells. "What are you doing?"

Louis presses a finger to his lips and motions for him to hide behind the tree with him. Henri cautiously follows.

"Who are you?" Henri asks.

Without a word, Louis takes off his face mask.

Henri gasps and fumbles around before remembering to curtsy.  

Louis snorts," Stop that nonsense,"

Henri picks himself up," What are you doing here and why are you dressed in peasants clothing?"

So Louis tells him the story of his arrogant father, Andre, his aunt, Queen Marie Antoinette, who he much preferred and his deep desire to run away which he did.

When Henri told him who was Henri's father, Louis gasped.

"Jacques was your father? So your last name is Montforte?" Louis asked.

"What do you mean? That is your last name!" Henri asks, confused.

"Ahh, so your father didn't tell you. Your father is actually my dad's brother," Louis said.

"No! Your dad had only one brother, Pierre and the rest were his sisters!" Henri says, stubbornly.

"No. That was what my dad made everyone believe. If you looked further, Dad had 2 brothers, one of them older, which is Jacques, your father, who ran away. He and Dad had a huge row. Dad bitterly hated Great-Grandpere for abdicating. And he hated your dad for being older than him," Louis paused for breath.

"But 2 of his sister's were older than him," Henri interrupted. 

"Yes but my grand-pere didn't approve of his daughters taking the royal throne. Even now, when he talks, its always about my dad and Pierre, or me and my brother, Charles, never about my aunties or sister. I don't think he wanted a daughter. So when your dad was born, my grand-pere was so overjoyed he became the favourite. He got massive celebrations and always got new things. That's what my dad hated. Anyway, when Jacques ran away, my grand-pere found out Jacques had ran away after coming home from a ball. He asked my dad where he was. Dad pleaded ignorance to the whole thing, saying he had no idea. One of the maids, Madeline had heard the row. But she hadn't known who was shouting. Grand-pere never recovered from the experience," Louis paused again. He wiped his eyes,"The next part is hard," 

Henri was silent.  Louis continued.

"Grand-pere died," Louis gulped. "And my Grand-mere had died before him. Dad was only 21 years old then. A year later, he married my Mum, Charlotte Evans, now Charlotte Montforte. 2 years later, I was born. And I only found out the truth, last year. Then I wanted to find you. So here I am,"

"You mean I am related you and I should be living in the Palace with you but I am not because of something your father did?" Henri said.

Louis nodded.

"I am-" Henri started.

"Prince Andre dead! Prince Andre dead!" The people in the village yelled.

Louis's colour drained. "What?"

Henri ran to the woman in the bread stall.

She eyed him again. "You again?"

"What happened?" Henri asks.

"You did not hear? Prince Andre was found in many criminal offences and was executed just then," The woman said.

"But that usually happens at midnight," Henri says, scared for his friend.

"Yes. But many people protested saying that they wanted to be awake for it," The woman said."I'm Giselle, by the way,"

"Henri," Henri said, distractedly," Merci," 

He ran back to Louis and told him. 

Louis nearly fainted," Dad never told me that. What shall I do? Mum is dead,"

Another gasp arouse.

"Jacques? Jacques?" Everyone was saying.

Henri and Louis ran to Giselle.

Giselle smiled at Henri," Bonjour again. Jacques just said he is the oldest son of Princess Louise- No! You are... Your his son!"

Henri nodded. Giselle looked like she was going to faint.

"And you, who are you?" Giselle says to Louis.

Louis slowly takes of his cloak.

"Prince Louis!" Giselle bows. 

At the mention of the prince, everyone surged towards them.

Louis and Henri glanced at one another, looks like life was about to get interesting.

6 months later...

"Make way for Prince Louis, Prince Henri and Prince Jacques!" The guard stood.

Henri and Louis shared a smile. Life indeed had changed in both bad and good ways. While Louis was in grief about his father's sudden death, his life was charmed by his new best friend and cousine Henri. And while Henri was sad to leave his friends in the 'Peasant' Family, he was excited to be a 'Aristocrat'. Henri is one of the people to be an aristocrat and a peasant.

After the French Revolution...

Henri looked at his best friend's and cousine grave and placed some flowers on it. Louis had unfortunately passed away during the battle while Henri was spared. Actually no one lived. Even Jacques, Henri's father had died. But Henri had fled to England and was now back. He looked across at the horizon and remembered The Day. When Louis had saved his life. And now Henri hoped his life was going to be better...