The Rock

Part 1

I pushed aside the couch pillows frantically, not knowing why, as there was no way the rock could be there. But I had to try. Where else could it be?

As I felt past the ridge of the couch cushions and felt nothing, my heart sank. The rock wasn't here. Panic set in as I searched harder, my breathing becoming rapid and my hands trembling.

I felt like I was losing my mind. I had to find that rock. It couldn't just disappear like this. 

I frantically continued my search, moving on to the other cushions in the living room. I dug through the throw pillows, the armchair, and even checked the coffee table. Then, I tore through drawers and cabinets, my heart racing with a sense of dread. Each empty drawer and fruitless search only fueled my growing sense of foreboding and fear. I couldn't let this happen. I had to find that rock.

Memories flooded my mind, rushing in with such intensity that I feared I might be overwhelmed by their force. I fought to hold them back, not allowing myself to give in to the emotion they brought with them - it would be too much for me to handle.

As I continued my search to no avail, I ran my hands through my hair, feeling my breathing quicken. It couldn't be gone. It just couldn't be. Because that would mean... that would mean...

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising sense of panic inside me. I couldn't let my mind spiral out of control. I needed to stay focused and think logically. I closed my eyes for a moment, visualising every step I had taken since the last time I remembered having it. Did I leave it in a different room? Had I misplaced it in a moment of distraction? Had it fallen out of my pocket without me realising it?

My husband's voice broke through my thoughts, but it sounded distant as if coming from another room. I turned to him, trying to form words, but nothing came out. How could I explain the significance of the missing object? It was more than just a simple rock - it held so much meaning.

A flicker of hope ignited within myself. Maybe, just maybe, it was there all along, waiting for me to find it. With an unwavering determination, I sprinted up the stairs, the pounding of my heart matching the rhythm of my footsteps. I flung open the small chest by the bedside table, my eyes searching for the precious rock.

But it was empty.

My heart shattered into a million pieces, the disappointment and despair weighing me down like an anchor. I collapsed onto the edge of the bed, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.

A hollow feeling crept up my chest, seizing me with its icy grip. It felt as if a dark cloud was slowly expanding, engulfing every fiber of my being. My breaths were shallow and laboured, and I began gasping for air. It was a suffocating sensation, like I was being pulled underwater and couldn't reach the surface.

And then, like a sudden burst of sunlight on a cloudy day, her eyes appeared before me, sparkling with a joy and innocence that could only belong to her.