End of the World

6

The sharp ringing tore Teresa of deep sleep. Ordered sleeping pills reached pharmacy and she could finally sleep. Perhaps with the exception of those moments when the bell rang at the office downstairs. Tess groggy got out of bed, improved shirt in which she slept, sought sweatpants and pulled them on. She switched on the light and went to the glass door, surprised to see behind the glass Tom Amber. It was 4:20 in the morning. Something happened at the ranch and it had to be something wrong.

- Tom? - Tess opened the door and forcibly refrain from backfilling questions.

Tom walked into the office and looked at Tess. He had a gray face, looked scared and sad ....

- For God's sake! Finally, tell what happened! - urged him impatiently.

- Benjamin ... - Tom said - Benjamin .. got hit ... they phoned from the unit ... .. I do not know who to go ... fucking Afghanistan.

Teresa had to hold on to the treatment table to keep from falling. Cool metal struck her skin like electricity. She opened her mouth to say something, but no word escaped from her throat.

- His condition is very serious ... - Tom's voice broke down and the man leaned with both hands on the same table.

Tess put her hair behind ear trying to hide nervousness.

- What about Vincent?

- He goes mad with fear ... waiting for the phone whether the operation was successful

She could imagine!

- Tom, wait, I'll take a sweatshirt and I'll put shoes ... we have to go to pastor - in her mind raged million thoughts - Pastor will know what to do.

Forty minutes later, pastor Blay, Tom and Teresa entered the light-polluted Vincent's home. They found him in the kitchen. He sat at the table with his eyes fixed on the edge of a ceramic cup. He was pale, unshaven, with disheveled hair. He did not even look up when three people came into the room.

Tess covered her mouth trying to hold back tears. She did not know what to say to father, who was waiting for news about the life or death of his only son. Driven by compassion, she went to the sitting Vince and took arms around his head.

Vince was stiff like a doll, but pressed his ear to the chest Tess, registered flapping frightened heart. He closed his eyes for a split second, reveling in the smell and the proximity of this woman.

- They operate him - said in a strangled voice, his face still tucked in her blouse.

- I'll make coffee - decided Tess - We'll wait with you.

Pastor Blat came to Vincent, patted him on the shoulder and sat down. He said a calm, low voice. Words of encouragement, words of hopeful, words, which perhaps, Vincent refused to listen, but definitely should. Teresa glanced over her shoulder at the suffering man. There was nothing left of his pride, his austerity and principles. He seemed to be broken.

- You can not give doubt, Vince - pastor spoke calmly - None of us can ... have a hope ...

Unexpectedly Vincent jumped up from his chair with such force that it fell with a loud bang. Tess turned around.

- Hope? !! Tell that to those who sent my son to some Arab country in the middle of the war. Tell that to those whose sons will never come back from the war !! My... only child is in a military hospital, I do not even know where, perhaps dying and you tell me to hope? !! - Vincent shouted, but by his words more meaningful despair and helplessness, than anger. Without waiting for the reaction of the other, Vince came out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He slammed the bedroom door behind him with great force.