ii. The Day I Died

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II.
The Day I Died








SEPTEMBER 26, 2003


I WAS SLEEPING WHEN I heard the front door slam shut. 

With the front door being directly below Joel and I's bedroom and this house being poorly built, the entire room shook with the harsh slam. I take a moment to analyze my surroundings and shake awake from my half-asleep state. The clock next to me reads 3 in the morning.

I pull the linen covers off of me and notice Joel still isn't back. It's had to have been nearly four hours since he went to pick up Tommy and, still, he isn't anywhere in sight. 

My heart begins to quick and my gut clenches tight as I peek through the blinds on my window. There were military planes flying overhead in the sky and the road to our house was dark and had an eerie feel to it that made my stomach twist into knots.

The street lights were dim and yellow and slowly flashed. But Joel's truck was nowhere to be found in the driveway.

Something was happening.

I tiptoed to the bedroom closet and from the shoebox hidden behind all the others, I grabbed the bright green one where my gun lay.

Taking it out of the box, I graze my hand over the trigger. The metal is cold against my fingers but my shaking hands are the only things I can focus on.

Slowly, I walk down the hall and to Sarah's bedroom. The door creaks and my heart fastens.

But her bed is empty.

Quickly, with a somewhat steady hand, I grip the handgun even tighter and quickly make my way down the staircase.

I can hear the TV on from Sarah and I's failed movie night and the sounds coming from it only get louder as I approach the living room.

It's a black background. The letters on the screen reading: National Alert: Law Enforcements in your area will be in contact with further instructions shortly.

Helpful.

Something is happening. I know it.

My heart sinks and just then, I hear a motorcycle engine revving and tires screeching. I look to my left and out the window and I spot Sarah in the neighbor's yard.

I don't hesitate when running outside and over to her. I clutch onto her, relieved she's safe but my gut is still screaming at me.

She was visibly panicked. "The Adler's dog--"

I pull away from her but keep my left hand on her face, forcing her to look at me while my gun remains tight in my opposite hand. "What? What is it, baby?"

Her wide brown eyes fixate on the Adler's door. It's wide open and as I examine it, my body tenses and everything within me is screaming: don't go in!

         "Their dog ran that way and I need to tell them."

Relief fills me and I find myself letting out that breath I didn't quite know I was holding. I see the collar in her hand and I hide my gun away in my back pocket. "Here, give me the collar and I'll go tell them. You just go back inside and go to sleep. 'Kay?"

WHEN YOU FINISH SAVING THE WORLD ✸ Joel MillerWhere stories live. Discover now