Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Cyber Communication (email, IM’s, etc) (11/04/10)
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TITLE: Angelee's Message | Previous Challenge Entry
By Angela M. Baker-Bridge
11/11/10 -
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Holding my cell phone, I alternate between calling her and checking if she’s called me. She isn’t answering or contacting me. It’s now three hours past her curfew. My stomach is in knots; my breathing swift and shallow.
Tears are welling up in my eyes. I pull my white robe tightly around me. It’s not flannel that I long to feel. I want my daughter’s arms around me. I want to hear from Angelee. Ironically, her name means messenger yet she isn’t sending me one. Until I hear from her I know neither my heart’s rhythm nor my thoughts will slow down.
Twirling my wedding ring, I wish Ben wasn’t away. I don’t want to be alone.
I walk up stairs, pausing to look at pictures of Angelee. My favorite is of her sixth grade graduation. That year she begged me for a cell phone. I didn’t think she needed one. I didn’t care if all her friends had phones. Her father and I didn’t have cell phones. We argued repeatedly, until the day she was late getting home from her piano lesson.
I called her music school repeatedly. Finally someone answered the phone. Upon my insistence she checked the student logs. “Yes, your husband signed her out.” The way she huffed, I knew she was annoyed with me.
“No, he wasn’t late. I have no idea if they were stopping anywhere.” Funny how after all this time I can still remember the sound of her voice.
I also remember the voice of an emergency room nurse. She called me shortly after I hung up with the music school. “There’s been an accident,” she said. My heart stopped. I screamed. I grabbed my keys, and raced to the hospital. Angelee and Ben only had minor bruises, Ben’s car was totaled. I never let the nurse explain. Ben had asked her to call me so I wouldn’t worry. It was too late.
The next day we bought three cell phones.
I hear a knock at the door. For a moment I’m confused. I look at my watch. It’s the middle of the night. I’m jolted back to the present. I put my cell phone in my robe’s pocket as I run down the stairs. I’m anxious to hold my baby girl.
Opening the front door, I see two police officers standing there. I look past them to see if Angelee is behind them. She’s not. A voice startles me.
“May we come in?”
“Oh yes, I’m sorry. What did you say your names were?”
Their names don’t register with me. They ask if Ben is home. They’re talking about checking email while driving. Email caused an accident? My mind is wandering about like a child in a maze. I look up and see emails from outer space circling around me. I can’t find my way out. I’m not sure I want to, not now, not ever. Not without finding Angelee.
Nothing looks or sounds familiar. A man has his arm around my waist, holding me close to him. He whispers to an older couple. “I’ve lost them both.” He sobs, tears rolling down his cheeks. They try to console him, “God is able to do the impossible. Let Him be your comforter, strength, and healer. What the enemy of your soul meant for evil, God can use for your good Brad and for Janie as well. Angelee’s life touched so many, and now will save even more.” They all hug as I look on. Somehow it feels as though they’re talking about me.
This sea of black is drowning me. It’s too sad in this room. I don’t want to be here. I want my cell phone. I must check if Angelee’s sent me a message. I need to hear from her. Somehow I know she sent a very important message to everyone else in this room, something about email. I don’t understand and don’t really care. I will wait for my message for as long as I have to.
I am escorted out of the sad room to a large foyer. I look outside the glass front doors. I see a rainbow in the sky. I smile. Angelee loved rainbows.
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