Journey's Child

2

My long strides quickened to a jog as I rushed towards my house. By the time I reached the driveway I was running, spurred on by curiosity and worry. I came to an abrupt stop when I reached the police car.

Susannah not far behind, collided into me. "What's wrong? Why did you stop?"

I ignored her questions and stared up at the arch shaped front door with the round leaded glass window. I was suddenly afraid to go in. I looked at the entrance that had always been a passage to safety and comfort and gulped down a lump of fear. I pushed myself forward without looking back. "Let's go."

After taking a few steps I realized I was alone. I stopped and looked over my shoulder. "Come on, what's the matter?"

Susannah stood still, some of the color had left her cheeks. "I think I better go home now," she blurted out as she quickly turned and headed back down the street.

"Susannah!"

She didn't turn around, instead, she quickened her steps and continued to stiffly walk back to her own house and safety.

I knew I had to go in. Feeling lonelier than I could remember, I approached the front door. My mind went back to past entrances I had made - running, skipping, alone, and with friends. My fear was that this would be the one that I would always remember. The one that erased all the others.

I opened the door and stepped inside feeling the temperature change as the coolness of the house wrapped around me. I stood in the foyer unable to move, as icy fingers ran down my spine, holding me in place. I waited and listened - frozen like a mannequin in a store window while the silence spoke volumes and the familiar sounds I searched for lay quiet.

"Mom?" I whispered.

Nothing.

"Mom?" I repeated in a slightly louder voice as alarm began to crawl up my body from the spot where I stood.

"I'm in here Gilly."

My mother's voice, hoarse and strained came from the living room. I could tell she had been crying. She sat on the couch with a female police officer next to her. I stood in the curved doorway staring blankly at the scene in front of me.

The screeching static of a remote radio broke my concentration. I looked up to see another police officer standing off to the side. He seemed quite young and I thought he looked as afraid as I felt. Grabbing the radio he headed outside.

I turned my attention back to my mother who held out a beckoning arm. "Come here Gilly."

Standing my ground I tried to get some idea of what was happening.

My mother's face was pale and tear streaked. "Come here honey," she pleaded.

I walked over and sat down. My body tensed as I waited to hear what had happened to cause my mother to melt into this sad and pathetic creature I now sat next to.