The Waking Dead

       It was midnight and Toni Kingly couldn't get to sleep. Not after a chorus of screams outside her room. Who needs silence to sleep when you had parents to keep you wake with their countless fights? Toni surely didn't, she slowly sat up in bed, rubs her eyes, then swung her legs over the full-sized bed. Toni couldn't fathom what her parents would have to fight about so late— or so early, depending on how you looked at it. Since this was an everyday occurrence in her household she didn't bother to rush to see the problem. Instead, she heads to the kitchen to grab a snack. Cereal sounds good, she thought.

         By the time she heads back to her room with her cereal in hand, her parents were silenced by what sounded like a movie on television. She didn't bother to knock on their door, she walked past it and went back to her own room. Toni didn't know why cereal tasted so much better at night. It just did. Shoveling the cereal into her mouth, Toni relaxed back on her bed. Finally, the house was quiet, but for how long? She decides to check her Facebook messages on her phone. There wasn't too many in her inbox, but an unusual status posted by her friend goes across her screen. Instantly, it caught her attention, her happy night was soon filled with worry. What had happened? Was her friend okay? Was his family okay? Without hesitation, Toni reaches out to her friend by calling, to her surprise, he doesn't answer— her heart sank.

       In disbelief, she read his status a few additional times. A feeling of helplessness swiftly washes over her. She had always been the nurturing type and because of their distance, she wasn't able to support him in the way she truly wanted. At first, she sat at her desk staring at his status, then an idea came to her, they say words can heal and right now her words were all she had. Toni continued to stare at the blank screen that stared back her. She watches the cursor blink; it seemed to mock her as it waits for her to start typing. There were so many thoughts swimming around in her head. So many emotions in her heart that she wanted to convey. Yet she struggled to find the right words to say, her mind constantly drew a blank.

        She continued with the attempt to unravel the mess of emotions inside her heart and mind. Everything inside was now spilling out onto the page. The more she typed the more she felt better; her anxiousness of trying to get it all out was slowly dissipating. Her fingers move about the phone's keys expeditiously. She had to get it out, all that she wanted to say. Besides, he needed to hear her words just as much as she wanted to say it... at least that is what she thought.

       She types..."When we lose someone so close, so suddenly... our life that once was overflowing with hope, promise, and happiness to spare. Is now, replaced with hopelessness, doubt, and despair. We know not why some things occur: we just know they do. Hoping to find that reason to help us through-"Toni press on the backspace button, held it down, and allows the entire passage to delete. She wasn't happy with what she had just said. After all, she didn't want her message to be depressing, her friend needed to be uplifted more now than ever. Starting again, Toni thought of something new to write.

If my expression of love would help you heal my friend
Then I'll surround you with my love to fill your soul with a light of hope
If my sympathetic words would help you heal my friend
I would write words that would ease the ache and restore
If my infinite hugs would help you heal my friend
I would embrace you tightly and allow you to collapse upon me...
My strength is now your strength ...
You can count on me
If anything I do would help you heal my friend.
I wouldn't hesitate to do it for you.

       Toni sat back in her bed, crossed her arms, then smiles. Although her message was short, every word had come from the heart, and she didn't want to overwhelm his heavy heart with too many words. Finally, she was able to put into words what she was feeling and maybe those words, if just for a split second, put a smile on her friend's weary face. She sat there, rereading her message, and then logs out.