Through the Storm

Chapter 1

Four years later

                “No, No, No, No,” Shannon whispered when she seen two uniformed soldiers step out of the car that had just pulled into the driveway. Please God, please don’t let it be him. Don’t let it be Ryan. She stopped doing the dishes and gripped the counter so hard that her knuckles turned white. When she heard the knock on the door, she didn’t move. She didn’t want to open the door. She didn’t want to hear what they had to say. After several seconds had passed, they knocked again. She slowly walked to the door. Every step she took was agonizing. Finally, she was at the door; she slowly opened it.

                “Yes, may I, may I help you?” she asked. Maybe they had the wrong house. There were several people in this town that had sons or daughters or husbands in the army. Stop it Shannon. You shouldn’t be hoping that someone’s relative was killed, but she didn’t want it to be her husband. Maybe he was seriously injured. Yes, that had to be it. He was injured that was all.

                “Ma’am, are you Shannon Greenwood?” one of the soldiers asked.

                “Yes, yes, I am.” She didn’t want to hear what they had to say; she wanted to turn around and slam the door in their faces.

                “Mrs. Greenwood, I am so sorry. Your husband was killed yesterday by a roadside bomb.” They handed her a letter. “All the details are right there. Again, I am so sorry. Lieutenant Greenwood was a good man.” He nodded to her and then both soldiers walked away.

                She walked back into the house and shut the door behind her. Her knees felt weak, but she didn’t fall. It wasn’t until she was in the living room that it truly hit her. She would never see Ryan again – you know that’s not true Shannon. He’s gone home. He’s with God now. He’s in paradise. You’ll see him again someday. But that didn’t help. She wanted him to be right here beside her – to hold her and tell her this was just a bad dream. She wanted him to come home this Saturday like he was supposed to.

                Her legs couldn’t hold her up anymore. They gave out, and she fell to the ground. Tears fell from her eyes, and she cried like she never cried before. This couldn’t be happening, not to her anyway. Maybe this was a bad dream. She’ll wake up in a few hours and realize that it was all just a bad dream. She’ll realize that the soldiers never came here. It was just a bad dream. But she knew that it wasn’t a dream. She knew that this was real.

                God, why him? Why Ryan? I needed him Lord. Why did You have to take him now? What am I supposed to do now?

                My daughter, Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be afraid, just believe. For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

                All of those verses came to her mind at once. He knows the plans that he has for me. Yes, she knew that. But why did those plans have to be without Ryan? Why couldn’t he be part of those future plans?

                She started to cry again. She wasn’t ready to say good-bye to Ryan. The verse from Jeremiah came back to her mind. “… plans to prosper you and not to harm you...” She became angry. How was taking away Ryan not harming her? She didn’t stay angry for very long. She needed her Counselor, her All-Mighty God. She couldn’t turn her back on Him, not now. Because if she did, she would fall apart; she wouldn’t be able to go on. And she needed to.

                She couldn’t stop crying. She needed Ryan now more than ever. All of a sudden, she felt the baby kick, and he wouldn’t stop. It was like he knew what was wrong. Knew what was happening. She placed her hand on her tummy. She was almost seven months pregnant. Oh God. This baby will never get to meet his Daddy. He’ll never know what it would be like to play ball with his father, or any other thing that a little boy should be able to do with his dad.