The day had started out as most did. Annie made waffles while Finnick poured the coffee. They ate in silence as they breathed in the coffee and got ready for their days. "I'll be back by six and then we'll go watch this movie you so desperately want to see." He pecked her lips as he grabbed his jacket. "Have fun." He added with a little grin as he walked out the door, driving off. Annie still had some time before she needed to get to the school, glad that classes started at nine. She was able to clean up and get some extra grading done before going to the school.
When she came back from school, she was always pretty drained from taking care of children, but being an elementary school teacher was one of her favorite things especially now that her own two kids were all grown up. She lounged on the couch as she waited for Finnick to come home. She must have dozed off, because when she opened her eyes again, the room was dark and the sun was set. She blinked and glanced at the clock, frowning as she realized it was 7:30. She looked at her cellphone, growing concerned as she saw no texts or calls from Finnick.
She had always been the type to worry too much and she was always scolding herself for caring too much and getting to anxious, but there was a strange unsettling feeling in her heart as she dialed her husband's number. Each time she called there was no answer. And then the home phone rang and she rushed to answer. "Finn? Everyth—" she stopped as she heard the voice. "I'll be right there." She stammered, her hand shaking as she quickly grabbed her jacket and ran to the car, not even bothering to lock the door.
"Mrs. Odair? There's been an accident. Your husband is the hospital. He's alive, but his condition is critical." The woman's voice, so devoid of emotion, echoed through her mind as she sped to the hospital. The hallways felt never ending as she ran down the halls, everything blurry and faded and in slow motion. "M-my husband... Finnick..." she stammered as she got to the desk, stopping as she heard a familiar voice.
"Mom!" her daughter came up from behind her and hugged her tightly. Mags pulled Annie to the waiting lounge where Adrian was sitting anxiously. "We came as soon as we heard. Dad's having an emergency operation right now." She explained as she helped her mother sit down.
"They said that he was shot." Adrian added, ignoring the look Mags gave him. "There was some kind of robbery." He added softly, taking Annie's hands. "It'll be fine, Mom. It'll be okay. Dad's a fighter. We all know it."
Annie just nodded, too shocked. "We were going to watch a movie." She spoke before she knew what she was saying. "He said he would be home by six and I fell asleep and didn't realize the time."
They all sat in silence as they waited. Every second felt like eternity, and after what seemed like forever, a doctor came out with an unreadable expression. Annie could see his mouth moving but nothing was going in her ears. And then she heard a loud gasp followed by an even louder "No!". And she felt arms go around her as she felt her whole body go numb.
"We're so sorry. We did everything we could." The doctor's registered only after her reaction. Annie completely shut down as Adrian helped her sit down. She didn't move... she didn't cry. She just felt an emptiness in her heart. Finnick Odair, the man she said she would spend eternity with, was gone. In the blink of an eye he was taken away from her. It didn't feel real, but she knew it was true. She could hear her daughter's sobbing and her son trying to stay strong. She could see their heartbroken faces as they realized that their father was gone.
~~~
Annie stared at the frame she'd just broken, her vision blurry from the tears that threatened to spill. It was from a picnic they had taken many years ago when Adrian and Mags were still children. Finnick was sitting with the kids sitting on his lap. Instead of looking at the camera, he was looking at Annie. His eyes were bright, so full of life...so happy. A sob escaped her lips as she sank to her knees, her whole body shaking.
It had been three dayssince that night at the hospital. And this was the first time she had cried."Finn..." she moaned, hugging the picture to her chest as she heard her son runto the living room. "You promised eternity!" she yelled, throwing the frameacross the room and watching the glass shatter over the picture perfect family.
