Heaven, The Peaceful Resting Ground

Sad song plays softly on the radio,
her hands cold as ice,
holds tight to the wheel.

Tears stream silently down her face,
a stray sob sounds louder than necessary,
she jumps a little at the sound.

The narrow, windy road
slithers beneath the wheels of her car.
Trees make strange shadows,
that frighten her and she pushes her car faster.

A child steps out into the road.
SSSCCCRREEEAAACCCHHH!
The car buckles to a stop.
She gasps for air.
Shocked.
Upset.
Confused.

Stepping out of the car,
her hair tangling in the door.
Wiping stray tears from her face.
Hello?
No response. The wind picks up.

Suddenly she falls down in tears,
Sobbing so hard.
Breath hitching and shaking all over.
He knows, she tried to save him.

It was dark and she was watching him.
His parents needed a break from the chaos.
She came because she loved kids.
He adored her. Put flowers in her blonde hair.
Screamed with delight on the swings at the park.
She sat down for a moment,
taking a breather from the game of tag.
She looked up at the sound of silence.
Then the huge crash.

He was nowhere around. She ran with fear.
She called for him, over and over and over.
No answer, just silence.
Walking over to the crash, a man with a pale face.
Looked to be in tears.
"I'm sorry.."

Down was the little, brown haired boy.
Blood streaming from his crown.
Soaking his shirt and pants.
She dialed 911 and got help.
She took her shirt off and applied pressure.
Stroking his hair, spreading the blod.
Whispering it will be all right.

The man left.
She cradled the boy in her arms.
Tears coming to her eyes.
The sirens announced the arrival of paramedics.
They scooped up the boy and strapped him to a board.
She cried as the ambulance raced away.

She went to her car and got in shaking.
Parents were called and notified of events.
She went home shocked,
scared,
upset,
distraught, and
the list goes on and on.

Counselors were called in,
students comforted her.
She cried her way through classes.
Barely passed and walked for graduation.

She just needed to drive.
Her parents car was home.
The engine fired to life and she drove.
Just wanted to forget, wanted him back.

She knew it was her fault for him passing.
She cried for him, knew it was accident.
Kept seeing his bloody face in her dreams.
He looked lost.

A cop pulled over,
asked if she was all right.
She cried harder. He pulled his coat off,
wrapped it around her. Pulled her close.
She sobbed and rocked.

He stroked her hair until it stopped.
Helped her up, looked her in the eye.
"Janie, it's not your fault."
She stood up, looking helpless.
He drove her home,
grabbed a buddy and got the car home.

Took the night off and held her.
Gave her a tranquilizer to calm her nerves.
Watched and stayed with her.
His beeper when off,
they ignored it.
She woke up refreshed, still upset.
He kissed her hair. She laid on his chest.

He called into work. They took the day.
Went to the beach, to walk and relax.
She calmed down.
He watched her skip stones.
Dropped her off.
Hugged her tight. Told her to hang on.

Nights later his beeper went off.
He jumped up and saw the plate.
Took off with his uniform a mess.
Saw the crash and knew she was gone.

Watched the paramedics zip her up,
tight, hair in the zipper.
He cursed and stopped them to fix it.

He carried her casket at the funeral.
Wished her a better time with the boy.
Brought her flowers every day,
on her day she left.

Went home to his cat.
"Janie get me a beer."
Meow. She sat in his lap and purred.
He cuddled her and slept soundly in the chair.

A dream woke him.
She said she loved him.
He got up to shower and continue his life.
Helping kids stay safe out of the road.

Part Two: Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

Katie woke up earlier than usual the next morning. Her phone was going crazy next to her on the night stand. She picked it up and saw that it was Dan. She answered in a not quite awake voice. Dan teased her and told her to get up that his landlord wanted to meet with Katie today and get the application filled out so they could start living together soon. Katie was so overjoyed that she bounded out of bed almost took her cell phone into the shower with her.
After getting showered and dressed in one of her more casual outfits, Katie headed to Dan's apartment complex to meet Dan's landlord. After a brief meeting a some time to fill out the roommate application, Katie and Dan headed to a small cafe for lunch. The two talked and talked about Katie's situation and since neither of them had to work that day, they headed out to enjoy a funny movie. Katie agreed when Dan said they should see something comical to relieve some of the tension in Katie's life, although hopefully it will be a bit easier for her after the landlord reviews her case and accepts her application. Halfway through the movie Dan got a text from work, saying that he needed to come in right away because someone got sick and he was the only one who could cover and close the store that night. Dan apologized to Katie for having to leave her. She understood and finished the movie and then got herself back to the hotel. That night as she was laying in bed she could not believe all the good luck she was having of finding an apartment and getting such a good roommate. Katie was sure that ground rules would have to be established because Dan would want to see other girls at some point other than her. She would also want to date other guys than Dan. In the end she would make it work for her and Dan living together. And she would have someone for which to cook and share leftovers at night. Katie thought of these wonderful possibilities as she feel asleep that night and slept very soundly for once because she knew that she possibly had a home in which to live, quite soon.
Dan walked into work rather annoyed but the person he was relieving looked to be quite happy that Dan was there. Dan put on his work clothes and started helping customers that night. All the while trying to put Katie to the back of his mind because he knew she was probably thinking about other guys. The way she was so helpless and sad in his arms the other night just made him want to hold and caress her forever. Her skin was so soft and her hair smelled like some kind of unique flower. The way she curled up in his arms so tight and perfect it was like they were meant to be. Dan also came to the troubling conclusion that he would have to share space with Katie and try to fit all of her stuff into the apartment. He worked out details in his head until the end of the night when it was time to straighten up the store and run reports for the next day.
That night when Dan got home he striped down to his boxers and cuddled up with his body pillow to try and sleep and pretend Katie was there breathing deeply and evenly with him. He could stroke her hair, smooth out goosebumps on her arms, and wrap their legs together so it felt like they were one person. Dan fell asleep that night dreaming of Katie and how wonderful it would be to have her in bed with him at night.
Outside Katie's window of the hotel, two men with masks stood next to the door waiting for the signal to break the window and pounce on the helpless little girl.
CRASH, glass went everywhere. Katie awoke with a start and screamed as two large men came through her window with guns. They demanded cash which she gave the little from her purse and then they scattered. Shaking and very scared, Katie went to the front desk and was greeted by the person working behind the desk, asking if she was all right. Katie said she was and went to go fill out police paper work to catch the men who robbed her that night. After much commotion and many phone calls Katie went back to sleep but could not get much sleep because of the nightmares and ideas still racing through her mind. She hoped that Dan would have good news for her in the morning so she would not be taken advantage of again.