Sifting Through the Ashes

Part I: Chapter 3

          "Wait, what?" It didn't register what Officer Novak had just said. "An accident with my mother? Did she knock over one of the shelves at Wal-Mart again. Wouldn't be the first time." Diana was recalling a time when she was a small child and her mother had leaned against one of the shelves, dropping hundreds of boxes of cereal.
     "No, Ms. Bryan," Officer Winchester looked worried for Diana. "There was a car accident. Your mother was severely injure and died on the scene."
     "No, Mr. Officer." This was all some sick joke. Diana's mother was fine. "She's just at the store picking up groceries for Christmas dinner tomorrow. You must have gotten her confused with someone else."
     "We pulled her ID out of her wallet." Officer Novak held out Mrs. Bryan's Drivers license and ID, along with Diana's social security card and birth certificate. "That's how we knew to come find you."
          Just the Diana's phone started ringing and she rushed over to it. "This is probably her now, Officers, calling to tell me she'll be home in just a few minutes." Diana answered the phone. It wasn't her mother, but Jake's mother.
     "Diana, this is Ms. Reynolds. I just saw the police and an ambulance and your mothers car." Her voice was cracking. "I'm so sorry, Sweetheart. I'm here if you need me." The line went dead and the reality of the whole situation struck Diana. Her mother was gone. Completely gone, forever. She turned back towards the police and slowly found her way to the little armchair that sat across from the couch. She put her head in her hands and just sat there.
     "I can't tell you how sorry I am," Officer Novak started, reaching a hand out to comfort Diana.
     "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" The officer jumped to their feet and headed for the door.
     "Call us if you-" Officer Winchester was cut off by the door being slammed in his face.
          Diana leaned against the front door and looked around. From where the door was positioned, she had a clear view of both the living room and kitchen. Everywhere she looked there was a piece of her mother: a half finished book lying on the couch, a half eaten sand which from her lunch, the half finished Christmas dinner. Diana ran back into the living room and grabbed her cell phone. She dialed her mother and hung up when it reached the voicemail box. That is when she saw the text.

Monday, December 24, 5:30pm
"On my way. See u in a few. Hope u r feeling bettr. Luv u."

The tears came. They came and they didn't stop for what seemed like an eternity.