Guarding the Colors

The Beginning

She wakes up to the sound of sirens. She's confused because of the changed location of her whereabouts. Just a few hours ago she was peacefully sleeping between her mother and father. She had a bad dream, terrified that the unthinkable would happen. She is aware of the paramedics and police officers moving noisily throughout her house. She's groggy, and everything feels blurred.

What's going on?

She lies on the couch in the living room painted green, too afraid to move. Her dream is coming true; except, this was not a dream she wanted to come true. It was the nightmare she thought would never happen. It could never happen. Not now. This can't be happening.

Her two-year-old sister begins crying. Maybe she is tired, maybe hungry, or maybe she needs a diaper change. Maybe it's something else: her father is dead. She is crying so loud her crib is even begging for her to be free. To say goodbye.

Their mother is hysterical. Just last night she heard Pete whisper "I love you". And she loved him, you could see it in her eyes every time she glanced his way. When she rolled over at 7:37 to ask whether or not he would take Clair to school, he was gone. He was there, but he was purple and blue and as dead as a door-nail. She immediately reached for the phone and dialed the numbers 911 with shaky fingers and a dry throat. They would be there as soon as they could, but Pete could not be saved. Minutes later, their lives would change forever. Clair's would change for sure.