#A Loss

Jane Jacobs woke up to what she thought to be a routine Sunday afternoon. Extraordinarily tired she remained in bed when her husband and three children decided they wanted rocky-road ice cream instead of vanilla. Rocky-road was an adventure within reach, four miles from home. Let us walk, no Dad can I drive? I don’t see why not. Remaining in bed was difficult when Jane saw the disappointment in the eyes of her husband and children when they realized that she would not partake in their Sunday adventure. She was too tired, her body would not move, could it be something she ate or maybe the two glasses of wine at lunch, she said as her beloved family tried to get her off the bed. She rolled over to get up but they saw only a still body and closed eyes. She was left behind.

Waking to unusual sounds Jane rolled over to sit at the edge of her bed. Emerging from her deep sleep Jane finally distinguishing the sounds reached for the phone as she walked towards the front door. Smiling to herself, she thought of her husband standing at the front door frustrated because he forgot his keys. She reached the front door and before acknowledging the person on the phone was greeted by her neighbor Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s face was in a clown like frown as she shifted from one leg to the next fidgety in motion. What could be wrong on such a bright and dreamy Sunday afternoon? Jane, whispered Elizabeth, after stepping into the house without the invite to come in and have tea. Jane she exclaimed taking Jane’s slender warm slept arms in her shaky clammy hands. Everyone has been trying to call you for over an hour, how can you sleep through all the noise? What noise? There was an accident just a block from the house. When Jane heard accident she turned toward her medical bag, stationed at the entry table grabbed it and ran out the door toward the accident site. Her only interest was to apply medical aid where most needed until the emergency vehicles arrived to transport patients to the emergency room. Elizabeth, moaned Jane, wait, stop you do not understand no medical aid is need. Jane! Jane looked back to her friend acknowledged her friend’s painful moan and stopped. She ran hastily and far enough to get close to the accident site. Her second look at the site helped her realized that it was not a normal Sunday afternoon.

The fatal accident shattered her heart, they were all dead. The family utility truck was being towed while four bodies were zipped in black plastic zipper bags. What has happened was her question but a thunderous scream materialized instead; it drowned out the questions, it took over every rational conversation, it consumed her body and tried as she could to articulate the questions, the scream took on a life of its own. Elizabeth reached her and held her but the scream would not be silenced, it grew and grew into a whirlwind of hurt and pain then suddenly there was darkness.

Jane’s eyes fluttered to the conversations of her three closest friends. Beverly decried, how is it possible that the drunk driver was able to walk away from the accident. They have him in custody but where is the justice? He will probably get five years maximum but Jane will have a life time of heartache. As humans trouble pursue us; we do wrong and get a double portion but if we act upright we should not have such great suffering. Sophia bemoaned, how will she be able to function without her family? They were inseparable. He raced home to be with her and the kids and she preferred to enjoy her family than the limelight of her surgical fame. The children were always happy; the three year old was an angle, the ten year old a perfect student and their teenage frequently abandoned his friends to be with his family. I wondered what horrible things the kids did to deserve such a short lived life. Everyone knows how terrible teenage boys can be but, he was a good kid. What are the odds of losing everything in a short period of time? Elizabeth supposed that Jane must have done something really bad to experience such a loss. Regardless of the wholesomeness of their lives they are still dead; she trusted in God but in the end there is emptiness.

Their lives were too perfect, he worshipped her and the children it was not natural. If I were her after such an enormous loss I would abandon my faith. What kind of God causes such a great loss? Elizabeth emphasized, Jane must have done something wrong. They were always together on any given Sunday why was she not in the car? Maybe she was having an affair, you remember Dr. Elman he hung on her every word. Sophia declared, he was enamored with Jane but, she never encouraged him, or did she? It is just too sad. Whatever she did or did not do it will not bring them back. Such beautiful children, how can anyone enjoy life after such a loss?

Jane twirled her head to her friends, sat up made eye contact with each friend smiled and in a trance, glided toward a picture framed bedroom. Jane can we get you anything are you hungry? Jane rambling away snubbed their inquiries and continued gliding towards the picture framed bedroom. In the peripheral visions of her friends she shut the door. Echoing sounds of draws opened then closed and boxes dropped were heard by vanishing friends. Jane what are you looking for they howled almost taking the form of wolves, gliding along the diminishing hall, we can get it for you. Jane, they howled as more draws opened more boxes dropped. There was a muffled silence and then an ear piercing explosion. The three screamed Jane’s name along the hall and shoved opened the door to display Jane’s body positioned on the floor with a gaping gun-shot womb to her head. The smoking gun facing the door transformed into a rocket.

Janice, will you wake up and get dress, we leave in forty minutes. I will not be late. Janice’s mother thrust the bedroom door open and agitatedly positioned herself on Janice’s bed. Will you please get up! Why are you still in bed? Mom, yawned Janice, I had the weirdest dream. Mom tugged Janice’s arms to move her from her reclined position. As she sauntered passed her daughter’s bed she reminded her, weird dreams are the very reasons why you should not sleep with the television on. Now get ready, we leave in forty minutes.