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There she was with dirt smudged cheeks, sunburned shoulders, and a cheeky grin. He remembered how he had ran into the house to grab his camera and snapped the photo right as she reached up with her forearm to wipe away the sweat. The corners of her mouth curled into a small, private smile and there was a victorious glow that surrounded her. The final strawberry plants had been transplanted from the tiny box at their apartment to their new country home. When she caught him with the camera, she (in her triumphal stupor) posed with the spade held in the air. Click. Flash. 3
He remembered how she padded into the house with dirty overalls and tank top. She poured herself a glass of water and stood at the edge of the porch to oogle at her garden. It was all hers and a gift for her family to enjoy. He came from behind and held her close and whispered in her ear, “I like you when you’re all dirty.” 4
She screeched at him, “Paul!” and playfully slapped at his arm. 5
They returned to their moment of silence and as he looked down her shoulder, he would have noticed the dirt under her nails and in the creases of his palms if she had been just an ordinary person, but he noticed how her hands fit perfectly into his and the softness of her skin. He kissed the top of her head and promised, “I’ll never leave you, Mary. I love you too much to do that.” 6
“I love you too, Paul. You don’t have to worry because I plan on hanging around here forever.” 7
From inside the house, a child clattered through the kitchen and ran to the sliding glass door. Leaving little handprints and fingerprints, she pried open the door and held up her book, “Mom!” 8
The birth of their first child marked a milestone in their life and the beginning of something different. She was christened Daria after her grandmother but as far as the family was concerned, she was Dee. Mary picked up her reason for living and held her against her hip. Paul laughed as Dee immediately began to pester them with questions. It was an onslaught with a five year old who insisted on knowing about everything. 9
“Why are your hands dirty? What’s that? Dad? What was that noise? What are you doing out here?’ 10
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Paul was a blue collared man, working as an electrician to make enough money to support his wife and child but who had a hobby as a photographer – the reason his wife fell in love with him; for his originality. He loved pictures of life – anything that depicted every little thing in life from a baby’s first discovery of their feet to lovers catching their first glimpse of each other to a father helping his son catch a fish to the moment when a mother becomes a grandmother. Life. He would take these photos and make a small amount of money at the local showcase for other artists of the same strand. But as simple as his life seemed, it changed on one November night.
It had unexpectedly showered that night and caused most families to stay inside of their homes and hideaway from the bad weather. The neighbors had turned their fireplaces on and spent time sitting together, but Paul’s wife had to take Daria to the doctor. She had a burning fever and they both agreed it was best to take her to the clinic. He had lit the fire, changed into his pajamas and thick socks. The phone rang and Paul, racked with nervousness in the pit of his stomach, answered it. 12
“She’s fine. Just a bit of the flu. He gave me some medicine. We’ll be home soon. I love you.” 13
He breathed a sigh of relief that most first parents would recognize. Sure they knew it was most likely the flu, but what if it wasn’t? There was no handbook, no A-Z instructions on parenting. He turned on the television and flopped down on the couch. 14
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Paul wasn’t sure the exact moment that his eyes closed and drifted off to sleep but he knew the exact moment his sleep was shattered by the ringing of a phone. It was nine forty-two in the p.m. He picked it up and looked around for Mary and Dee, “Hello?” 16
“Is this Paul Richardson?” 17
“Yes.” 18
“Paul, this is Kate.” 19
“Oh, hey Kate.” He sighed with relief. It was just one of Mary’s friends. They both had gone to nursing school together, married best friends, and moved to the same neighborhood. 20
“I’m working the shift right now and…Paul, we got a call about an accident and I think it is Mary.” 21
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Paul sped down the windy roads. Rain splattered on the pavement and he never realized exactly how heavy his boots were until that moment when he splashed through the puddles to the blinding red and blue lights. He was met with an officer but did not hear one word. He couldn’t feel the officer’s hand on his arm as he tried to push his way through. He ripped free and ran to the ambulance. There she was, illuminated by the low light and the flashlights of the emergency workers. He was hoisted in and he immediately reached for her hand. The car went off to a bumpy start as it sliced through the gravel and onto the pavement. 23
“Mary,” he whispered. 24
Her head was bleeding and he couldn’t even bear to glance at the rest of her body. She muttered, “The car rolled… God! Paul? I’m sorry. Where’s Dee?” 25
The emergency man answered, “They already took her.” 26
“I’m not going to leave you, Mary.” 27
“I know. Because you love me too much.” 28
And there it was; a secret smile between them. A different click went through his head and a different flash than from his camera as he remembered the way she half-smiled and squeezed his hand tighter. Though she clearly knew she was dying and though he denied it, they had found a way to communicate on an entirely different level that comforted them and they would take with them forever. 29
He kissed her forehead and she began to shake as she held back her sobs long enough to whisper, “Thank you.” 30
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The emergency men wheeled Mary through the emergency room and Paul chased to follow them until the “STAFF ONLY” sign stopped him in his tracks. He stood, dripping wet, and felt as if the room as spinning. Kate took his hand and sat him down on the couch. She sat beside him and gently mentioned, “Your shoes are untied.” 32
The simplicity of her statement made Paul look at her and crack into a cruel smile. He placed his head in her lap and began to cry. She stroked his head and listened as he listed the reasons why he needed Mary and Dee, and what he would give if they could walk out of those doors alive and well. 33
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