The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters(112)
“I need to pick up Korina.” She handed the attendant the tag that identified the young girl. Something about that concept seemed sick. It was as though she was picking up a lost bag, not a living person. Nevertheless, such random thoughts were not where her mind needed to be. She had to be here, in this moment, for the sake of her friend.
Debra led her friend and the woman’s young daughter through the gym doors and out to the parking lot. She scanned for the car. She was desperately trying to think on her feet and move as efficiently as possible. She could not remember where the darn car was parked. Irritation arose within her, she needed to hurry. She looked down and saw the young girl clinging to her mother’s weak hand. They needed her; they both desperately needed her right now. She had to keep it together. There was simply no other option. At last she identified Nancy’s beaten, tan car. She rushed toward the vehicle, half pushing her friend along. Nancy walked much like a robot. Her body seemed to be following Debra’s directions but at a loss for its own movements.
As they approached the car, Debra did not even ask. She knew the woman was in no state to drive, certainly not with a child in the car. She plucked the keys from Nancy’s hand. How they had even gotten from the woman’s purse into her clinging fingers, she did not know. It didn’t matter. She opened the passenger door first and eased her friend in, keeping a close eye on Korina the entire time. She then opened the back door, ready to help the young child.
“I do it myself!” Korina half screamed the words as she crawled into the backseat. Debra considered getting onto her for being rude, but it wasn’t the time. After all, the young child was probably aware something was wrong with her mother. Debra had always had a way with children. She understood them in a way many could not, granting them more credit for their understanding than the average, arrogant adult. Letting the slight disobedience slide, she closed the door and rushed to the driver’s side. Keys in hand, she whispered a silent prayer under her breath, then crawled in.
She started up the car and glanced once more at her friend. Nancy was staring straight ahead. Her mind wasn’t in the car; it wasn’t even in the vicinity. She was gone somewhere far away. Debra was thankful she did not need to ask for directions. She knew the way to her friend’s house well. Pulling onto the main road, her foot pressed the pedal hard. She looked in her review mirror and was reminded of the child in the back seat. The young girl stroked the doll’s red yarn hair, seemingly oblivious to the situation that awaited them. Debra lessened her foot’s pose against the pedal. She attempted to stay within the boundaries of limited speeding and safety. Every turn seemed to last an eternity and each red light felt like it stretched on for hours. She was eager to complete her mission, to get her friend and the young girl home safely.
Finally, they were arriving in the familiar neighborhood. Suddenly Debra almost wished the venture had taken longer. Deep down she knew this day would change everything for her beloved friend. It would change everything for them all.
She stopped in front of the split level home and saw Nancy’s husband, Paul, waiting on the steps. Even from afar, the look on his face said it all. It was worse than she could imagine, worse than her most terrible nightmares could concoct. Before Debra could move, her friend was out of the car and rushing toward the porch. Finally Debra’s body caught up to her mind and she hopped out of the vehicle, quickly opening the back door for the clueless young child waiting there. Then she heard it. She had not even turned around yet, but the scream froze her in place. It echoed with a pain that surpassed centuries. A desperation held within that would forever haunt Debra’s thoughts. In that moment, Debra knew beyond a doubt her friend was experiencing a level of grief few have ever known.
*
It was just another class, unlike any other. Paul was studying the work of God like always. Theology was his calling. He knew deep down this was exactly where he was meant to be but he had no idea how much his faith was about to be tested.
”Paul Fletcher?” The voice was distant from the back of the classroom, interrupting the lecture. Paul wondered if the man had really just said his name.
“Yes, that is me.” Paul did not understand the reason for this intrusion. It seemed very out of place, and he suddenly felt something was seriously wrong.
“There is an emergency call for you.” The man’s words confirmed his concern. He rushed out of the seat and was through the hall in minutes. His journey from the classroom to the phone flew by in a blur. As he picked up the telephone receiver, Paul felt a physical rush of pain shoot through him. He just knew something was wrong. It was his wife’s sister on the other line. Her words were weak as she conveyed the news. The phone dropped from Paul’s hands. He knew what this meant. His wife would never be the same, and worse, he had to deliver the news that would devastate her. He walked out of the building with horror filling him. How was he going to do this? How could he possibly speak the words that must be said?
Finally sitting in his car, he prayed to God for strength. He needed His help to get through this. There was no other way. He could not do this on his own. He started the car and was home in no time. He knew his wife was at the gym. She and Debra had made a tradition out of going every Monday and Wednesday. He plucked up the phone to call her and hesitated. He desperately wished this was all some terrible nightmare, a dream he could awake from. It was not. Paul dialed in the numbers and waited as it rang several times. He then sat on hold while the employee went to get his wife. He could picture the look on her face and, deep down he knew there was no reassurance that could be offered. There was nothing he could do but wait to deliver the ultimate blow till she arrived in person.