THAT DAY...
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
Little Girl and I always took Daddy lunch to the office, but today he was home to answer the call.
THE CALL THAT CAME...
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
((RING))
It pierces my soul to remember the moment...
((RING))
((RING))
"HELLO?"
Why did he have to answer? Maybe if he wouldn't have answered?
CRACK!!!
Our family table fractured under the weight of Ironman's fist. I burst into tears without knowing why. I groped and pleaded in the instant darkness for the reason my heart was twisted up where my toes reside.
"MOM'S BEEN IN A CAR WRECK."
"IS SHE OKAY- IS SHE OKAY? IS-- SHE-- OKAY? WHOSE MOM? WHOSE MOM? MY MOM? YOUR MOM? WHO!?!?"
My words hung in the air like a dense fog. Seconds were a lifetime.
"MINE."
Ironman's voice faded. He could scarecely inhale enough oxygen to get the words out. He dropped the phone.
"SHE'S DEAD."
*********************
DEAD...
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
His words deafened my ears. There was no more sound. I fell to the floor. Breathless. Face on the ground, my body heaved in sobs. Time stopped.
TIME STOPPED...
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
I realized we were now the family we never thought we would be. Suddenly, this sort of thing DOES actually happen to us.
TO US...
TO US...
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
Robots made phone calls. People came. Dinner arrived. Robots packed bags. Robots boarded a plane. The plane ascended. Pain descended. Strangely, we were soothed by the twinkle of Christmas lights glittering on the rooftops of houses.
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
Memories are frozen in time. Still and serene. Numb peace. Forever changed.
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
Thirteen years ago today...
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
We will never forget...
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
