Falling

Thirty (Awesome)

Cool air, smothered in the first hint of the oncoming day, greets our faces. A small burning seed peeks above the horizon and explodes, sending streaks of white light across the sky from east to west.

The small parking lot, fronting the station, reflects the emerging day.

"There be Trip!" Mary yells.

The black SUV is parked on the street!

 Waiting!

The front passenger door swings open and Sam.

"Sam!" Lyla screams!

I look at Mary for some confirmation of what I am seeing.

This unexpected sight holds us in place, our brains unable to process the unbelievable.

Trip hurries around to the back and pulls out a wheel chair, rolls it around to the back door and Toby....

"Toby!" We exclaim!

Trip is pushing the wheel chair toward us. Sam is walking beside.

We are suddenly rushing forward! Everything is a blur!

Our bodies collapse into a huddle around Toby and Sam.

"How?" Mary touches Toby's cheek with shivering fingers, eyes dripping tears.

"What?" Squito looks into Sam's cloudy eyes.

"They let you leave?" I gather Sam's hand into mine and kiss him on the cheek.

Sam raises his left hand. "Okay! Okay! Let's get you out of here and then we can explain!"

Pop!

Pop!

The sounds of gun fire abruptly split the air, forcing our attention...

Back...to the front of the Station!

Three shadows step forward!

"Wait!" The Captain yells. "You forgot this one!"

Papa Legba and Captain Sepion are standing on each side of Boss Man.

Boss Man wrenches free of my grasp and sprints toward the others.

The one in the wheel chair...and...the blind one! The light... a small white dot in his eyes...blooming into my head... joyful...taking me back to carefree days...Dad's small boat bobbing on the blue ocean...his smile.

"Papa!" I cry out, shaking my head.

"Close your eyes, Captain! It's the one in the wheel chair. No! It can't be. It's Toby! No! It's Squito!

"They've got the eye!"

How?

"Get into the car!" Boss Man yells!

Squito helps Toby into the back seat of the SUV.

Metal slaps against metal.

Boss Man jumps into the front seat, while Squito and Mary clammer into the back.

I'm holding Sam's hand. The SUV begins moving down the street. I see Mary's face pressed against a clear glass window! Her lips are moving!

"The taxi!"

I drag Sam to the little car, waiting for a willing passenger.

We pile into the back seat. I feel it move forward.

"Follow that black car!"

My head cascades into Sam's chest. An overwhelming collection of fearful moments, rising up like monsters, their eyes burning with black flames.

Tears spill over my cheeks, blooming into uncontrollable sobbing.

I feel his warm hand gently cares the back of my neck.

"You are safe now," his voice settles into my ears like a warm bath.

His other hand cuddles my chin in soft fingers, raising my tear filled eyes to his. The warm feeling of love bathes my body, reaching into my mind and calming the relentless sobbing.

Moments breath clam into the space between us. My eyes turn up and try to gather something.

The light!

It's still there, a small glow behind thinning white film.

The shadow of Lyla's face...moving behind the haze. Am I seeing?

"I love you...Lyla," the words whisper out, hanging between us.

These words...These joyful words, whispering love into into my mind. My arms circle around Sam's neck.

"I love you!" I breath into this moment, wanting it to be eternal.

The taxi's movement changes, motion comes to a stop.

"We have to get out here," Sam whispers.

I look up. My eyes snap a picture of the hospital...white sides...slippery glass doors.

"I promised we'd come back for checkout," Sam says.

We slide out of the taxi and step onto gray cement. The black SUV is parked in front of us.

Bodies are scrambling out of opening doors. Toby is helped into the wheelchair that is pulled from its station in the back of the SUV.

Our mumbling group shuffles through opening doors.

"Wait for us here," Sam says behind a wide smile. His hand drops mine. I feel his warmth walk away and disappear behind swinging doors.

Mary's body slips in behind them.

Boss Man is leaning into my eyes, both hands quietly holding my shoulders.

"We be safe...now."

His eyes...They are soft like his words.

Squito be pull'n three chairs into a little circle. I sees a faint hint of light shimmering across his eyes. How is it possible? He has the eye!

"Squito! How?"

"The eye?" He asks.

"Yes!" I sees Boss Man's question'n eyes search'n real hard into mine.

"Toby gots it! It's in the book!"

"The book?" Boss Man asks.

"Yes! We can be look'n at it! Sam's be have'n it by his bed."

Squito stands. "let's go an' take a look!"