Time Stands Still
By Angel of Death
Present
Sirens wailed, sounding like cries pouring from the lips of a drunken mother. We were all piled into Uncle Jerry's SUV, me, mom, and Aunt Ophelia.
"How 'bout some music?" Uncle Jerry asked, switching on the radio.
At first the old music player sputtered songs of static and then a soft magical voice filled the car.
"Sometimes we walk hand in hand by the sea
And we breathe in the cool salty air
You turn to me with a kiss in your eyes
And my heart feels a thrill beyond compare"
The classical tune seemed romantic enough to be placed against candlelight. But now, as the world slowly turns different cadences of gray, it becomes the most insensitive song on the face of this Earth. How can people keep living their lives when two human beings were either dead or dying?As I watched the frozen rain fall in icy splendors to the ground, I answered my question, knowing that I knew it all too well.
"Time stands still for no man," I whispered, sighing. My breath kisses the window, leaving behind a circle of fog. Slowly, I draw two eyes and a frown on the little blotch. Then, just like the cars retreating to a place far from home, it disappeared. I wonder if the pain that Scarlet's death will bring, would go away just as quick.
"It's wonderful, wonderful
Oh so wonderful, my love
The world is full of
wondrous things," the voice rejoiced, teasing my nerves faithfully. Without hesitating, I reached over and turned the music down, hoping like Christmas, it would just fade into the woodwork.
"My baby...: Aunt Ophelia cried. Tears made their ugly mark on her face as she wiped blindly at them. Mascara dripped into puddles of sorrow, turning them from black to gray. Taking a napkin from her purse, my mom wiped away the pain capturing the same symptoms of death on paper.
It was not too long ago that Aunt Ophelia received the neatly folded letter typed and fancily sealed. When she got it, she locked it up in a drawer, failing to think the worst. There wasn't a moment that went by that Ophelia didn't wonder what lied inside that white envelope. Depression seeped into her painted smile the more she held off reading the letter. Once, she tried skimming through the words would contain happy or good news but instead she was met with We are sorry about your loss. David will remain in our hearts forever. He was a fine soldier,
"Lia it's going to be okay," my mom said, softly. With her hand on her back, my mom tried desperately to calm my Aunt but everything she said or did was like fire to the teapot.
"It is not going to be okay! I've lost everything!" Aunt Ophelia screamed, shrugging away from my mother. The rest of the ride played a symphony of silence, with only the tears building the crescendo.
*
They told us that we had to wait before we could see Scarlet. I got a glimpse of her face before she was wheeled off and what I saw scared me. Dancing like blankets in the wind were purple bruises lined with bright red blood. Glass was everywhere on her body, piercing her hands and arms. Aunt Ophelia tried hard to escape from Uncle Jerry's grasp but he pinned her down, hoping she didn't see Scarlet's face. But she did. And now, for the rest of her sorrow filled life, that image will be imprinted in her memory.
We took our seats in the waiting room and then Uncle Jerry went off with my mom to get some coffee for everyone.
Hours passed by and each minute was tainted with screams of agony. Uncle Jerry tried to talk to Ophelia but she just wouldn't give. Soon a doctor was standing before us, giving the sad news of Scarlet's death.
"I want to see her," Aunt Ophelia murmured.
Everyone looked down, not knowing if this was the best thing for her. Even the doctor, with his soft green eyes agreed.
"Mrs. Green I don't think that this is..." he started, sighing.
"Let me see my daughter!" Aunt Ophelia screamed, jumping up from her chair.
There was silence and the the doctor shook his head 'okay'.
To Be Continued........
