Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
To read the short story in its entirety, click here.
"Emmy's having a rough day." John filled his glass and handed it to Aaron.
"That's what I hear," Jean responded.
"I've got to get some work done, but I hate to leave her alone. Can you stay for awhile? At least until she gets calmed down?"
"Sure. I came to see how she was."
"Great, thank you." John went to the bathroom briefly, then kissed Aaron and left.
Emily emerged. "Hello, Jean. It's so good to see you, I'm glad you stopped." She gave her sister a big hug and forced a smile. "Sit down. Do you want something to drink?"
"No, I'm fine, but I hear you're not so good."
"I'm okay." Emily sat across the table from Jean and stared at her fingers. "I can't seem to get over this. What's the matter with me?" She looked into Jean's eyes.
"Everyone handles grief differently. It takes time."
"How much time? When will little things stop reminding me of her?" Aaron swallowed hard, remembering what had reminded her this day. "When will I stop feeling angry? Will I ever be happy again?"
Aaron slipped into the living room and stood once more in front of the bookcase. The women continued talking and he knew they were not paying attention to him. He reached for the angel, this time putting the thumb and pinky on the wings with his palm over its face. You didn't help us, he thought. Then he heard the all too familiar weeping of his mother again in the kitchen and decided he would never sing the song again either. He placed the figure face down on the shelf and covered it with his handkerchief. At the same time, his eyes exchanged their boyhood sparkle for an intense, serious glare. He walked slowly into the kitchen, straight to the spot where Emily laid her head down on the table crying.
"It's okay, Mama. I won't make you sad anymore." Aaron put one arm around her back, the other on her arm and whispered in her ear. "I'm a big boy now. I'll make sure God doesn't hurt you again."
Emily turned and clutched the boy's waist, burying her head in his small chest.
"You're a good boy, honey," she said between sobs.
The End.
What do you think?
Photo Credit: PentaxFanatiK
3 comments:
Great story, Tami.....but that's not the end, right? That's just the first chapter of the WHOLE story....because I want a happy ending where they all cry and hug and realize that God is good and then they all live happily ever after!! :-) ~Emiley
Weren't you a MATH teacher?? What's up with this hidden talent for writing??? You have a beautiful way of capturing the scenerios -- but I, too, don't want it to be over here! :) I see the point you were trying to make in how our responses to things can have an effect on those around. But you did such a good job bringing in our emotions, too. We can all identify with the pain and sometimes questioning God -- so help us as readers come full cirlce to see how it doesn't have to stop with US! So, let's not have that be the end of the story for weeping lasts only for a night and HE can turn our mourning into DANCING!! Keep writing, friend, keep writing!
Excellent story. When you read about the little boy you think "No don't go that way" But how often is that what we subconsiously choose?
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