Pure Joy

I wait my eyes fixed on the television screen frantically flipping between stations as they take commercial breaks from the coverage.

Hoping as they report live from the scene that they will wander down your street so I can see if your house is still standing.

Three hours have passed since the storm took an unexpected path and flattened everything within a five mile radius of your home; the house that holds the fondest of my childhood memories.

I hope today that it did not hold you. I hold my phone tightly charging cord connected.

I press redial, your voicemail picks up again. I hang up and redial. I don’t know how many times I have called. Only to hear the ringing and have my heart stop everytime the ringing stops a glimmer of hope and then again I hear you familiar voice recording.

Please pick up! Please pick up!

The search and rescue teams are out searching for survivors they say it could take days to comb through the rubble.

I have to know that your ok. I have half an hour until the bus drops Jeremy off.

Its a sixteen hour drive if I leave as soon as he gets home. If we only stop when we have to I can be there by seven tomorrow morning.

I begin throwing clothes and food into a bag. My heart and my mind are racing. I try to gather my thoughts to make sure I have the essentials.

I feel so helpless I must know what has become of you. The thought of losing you is more than I can bear.

Loading the last few things in the car, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket before it begins to ring. Fumbling it as I try to press the answer button my heart pounding in my chest as I recognize the area code.

Hello...hello sweetheart...it’s me mom. I fall to my knees and weep tears of pure joy.