My Everything

Chapter 2: The Unknown

Sophie got in the habit of answering unknown numbers a long time ago. Her careless husband frequently lost or broke his phone. He would borrow a friend or stranger's phone to reach her.

She was always a worrier and he would be sure to hear about it if they were out of communication for more than a couple of hours. So that fateful day when she glanced down at her phone and saw an unknown number she rolled her eyes. She was about to give her husband an ear full when the voice on the other end wasn't her husband's deep husky voice.

She always loved his voice. So distinguished and unique. That deep authoritative voice but somehow soft making her nerves calm but knees quake. This voice though, calling from an "unknown number" was not her husband at all and immediately filled her with anxiety.

" This is Deputy Sanchez from the Marco County Sheriff's Department, Whom am I speaking with?"
There was silence on Sophie's end as her brain attempted to wrap around the various possibilities of this strange call.
"Hello?............. Hello?" The caller repeated.

"Uhhhh Sophie Sharp," she blurted out realizing she had yet to answer him.

Her mind began to go down a thousand rabbit holes.
Was Thomas ok? Was he arrested? No he wouldn't be that reckless.

She received regular updates from her husband since his arrival in Texas. He safely arrived, he got to the hotel, the meeting went well, they were on their way to dinner. Nothing out of place or disconcerting so why was she getting this phone call now?

" Mam, Is your husband Thomas Sharp?" The officer's voice was firm and straining to be steady.

Gulp. "Yes." She could barely hear him over her own heart beating rapidly in her ears.

"He came to El Paso recently for business?"

"Yes, Yes sir," she responded through a shaky voice.

"Well....I am sorry to be the one to tell you this but your husband was in a serious car accident and as a result died."

Sophie was frozen as the last sentence played on a loop in her mind. Died. Car accident? The world around her seemed to fade replaced by a black hole of dread. She felt like she was drowning to realize she had temporarily stopped breathing.

As an ER nurse she has been in  Deputy Sanchez's shoes having to confirm death to a family or loved one. There is a checklist to follow in order to prevent misinformation.
Step 1. Confirm relation to the patient.
Step 2. Make sure to not use terms like "gone" or "no longer with us" or " in a better place."
Step 3. To be direct leaving no room for doubt.

So when he said "died" she heard the finality but refused to accept it. She must have misheard the man. How does one process such a monumental statement in a short span of time and still have a conversation.

"Wha wha what did you just say?" She forcefully got out from her desert dry mouth.

"Mam, Thomas was in a motor vehicle accident and was found to be deceased on scene. He was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He had his ID on him and his co-worker that survived was able to identify him for us."

Sophie could hear the pity in the Deputies voice. The tone, the cadence, she knew that this man was telling the truth but how could she just accept this.

"Identify him?" asked Sophie seeking clarification as it sounded unfathomable.

None of this made any sense. Thomas knew to wear his seatbelt. His wife was a FREAKING ER nurse for goodness sake! He had heard the countless stories a million times of car accident victims not wearing their seat belts that his can't be true. Thomas was such a rule follower and way too cautious. He didn't need reminding to wear his seat belt. There is no way that her husband would get in any vehicle and not immediately grab for his seat belt. Maybe it malfunctioned?