Cough Syrup

A Dark World

Hey guys! @fakeempires and I don't quit! This one is a lot less of a rollercoaster than previous ones, but still angsty and dramatic nonetheless because what else would you expect 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hope you enjoy!

Elena pushed her grocery cart through the aisles of Metro Market, still unsure exactly what she was going to make for dinner. Chicken tagine sounded good, but she wasn't positive she had enough time.

"Shrimp tacos, momma," her four-year-old son, Jonas, said quietly as he stood next to her. He was adamant that he no longer sit in the cart. "Daddy's favorite," he added with a nod.

Elena chuckled. "You don't even like shrimp, sweetheart." Elena smiled down at him. "But we could have chicken tacos – your favorite."

"And candy?" he asked hopefully.

"How about coconut ice cream instead?" she proposed, her tone indicating it was an exciting suggestion to get him on board with her idea.

"Chocolate chip?" he asked, still hopeful.

"Even better – chocolate chocolate chip," she responded, knowing the answer would make her baby happy.

"Yes!" Jonas replied excitedly, raising his arms to be put in the cart. Elena immediately picked him up. "And waffles in the morning?"

"And waffles in the morning," Elena agreed.

Making Jonas the happiest little boy in the world was her mission in life, and waffles were a quick win toward meeting that objective.

***

As soon as Elena opened the door to her house, she could smell chicken cooking. Shit, she had completely forgotten.

"Gramma!" Jonas declared excitedly, sprinting into the kitchen.

Elena followed suit, but chose to walk rather than run. "Alice, I'm so sorry, I completely forgot." By the time she stepped into the kitchen, Jonas was already glued to his Gramma's side while Alice stirred green beans.

"Oh, it's okay, sweetie. I tried texting you, but I know you need a new phone," Alice said kindly. "I wish you would have gotten it, though. You could have taken some time to relax while I cook." She did need a new phone. Just another task on an ever-growing list that distracted her from her son.

Alice had informed Elena last week that she would be stopping over to cook for her and Jonas every Wednesday. "You need a break in the middle of the week. Need to make sure we keep a little meat on those bones." Those were her exact words.

Elena smiled at her mother-in-law. "I actually ran to the grocery store . . . by mistake. I'm going to bring in the groceries," Elena explained, running outside to grab the four bags of purchased goods.

As she put them away, Jonas stepped into help. "Momma's little helper," she said softly as Jonas put a few produce items into the fridge where he could reach.

"You two take a seat at the table. No more work for either of you tonight," Alice said with a smile.

"We can make our own plates, Alice," Elena said gently. "Your back has been bothering you."

"Nonsense," Alice replied, starting to scoop a mountain of food onto a plate just for Elena.

Elena sighed, as Jonas hopped into his booster seat. She settled next to her son, smiling at how politely he waited. He really was such a sweet boy. She was very lucky that he had so many positive influences in his life to get him to this point.

Alice led them through grace, and they ate their meal. "I made apple pie and have some ice cream," Alice said when they finished.

"Alice, I'm stuffed," Elena said with a smile. "I can't."

"Just a little piece," Alice said, ignoring Elena's comment. She retrieved pieces of pie for everyone, and on the side of Jonas's was a scoop of chocolate chocolate chip ice cream.

"Daddy loved chocolate ice cream, so I love chocolate ice cream," Jonas commented as he mixed apple pie with chocolate – an untraditional choice.

"He certainly did," Alice said with a sparkling smile. "He also loved all three of us very much."

"Do you think he eats chocolate ice cream in heaven?" Jonas asked contemplatively.

"I know he does," Alice responded confidently.

"And shrimp tacos?" Jonas continued.

"Unlimited shrimp tacos," Alice replied.

Elena wiped her eyes before any tears could fall. "Excuse me," she said quietly, making her way to the bathroom in her bedroom.

A few moments passed before she heard a light knock on the door. "Come in," she replied, trying to sound cool and collected despite her red and blotchy face.

"You don't have to run away when you feel things, sweetie," Alice said softly, wrapping her daughter-in-law in her arms. "It's going to hurt for a long time."

"I want to be strong for Jonas," she said, her voice stifled against her mother-in-law.

"In this case, it's Jonas who's going to be strong for us." The two broke apart from their embrace, and Alice noticed the sparkle on Elena's left hand.

Elena nodded. "We can go back out now. I'm sure Jonas is worried," she said with a slight laugh.

"Henry would want you to be happy, Elena. He'd want you to be fulfilled. To continue. That's all I'm going to say for now."

Elena didn't quite understand the point Alice was trying to make, but the nontraditional family of three returned to their kitchen and finished their dessert.

***

Elena was still uncomfortably full by the time she crawled into bed. Alice was a wonderful cook, just like her son, and she always overdid it whenever Alice made them a meal. She put her left hand on her stomach and took a few deep breaths, the sparkle of her wedding ring set causing her pause.

Henry would want you to be happy, Elena. He'd want you to be fulfilled. To continue.

She hadn't taken her rings off since she lost him, but the amount of food she ate was suddenly making them feel uncomfortable on her normally slender fingers.

She made her decision: she'd just take them off for the night then put them back on in the morning.

She slowly maneuvered her rings off her finger and set them on her nightstand. "Love you, Henry," she whispered as she ignored her tears and turned off her lamp.