It was a perfect late afternoon in early summer. Hope Baker was tending to a bed of yellow roses in the front of her house. In a few moments, her husband would be home and she had a special dinner planned - complete with fresh cut flowers. Their daughter Michelle was on her way to Arizona for a job interview, and so they had the house all to themselves for the weekend. Starting with a romantic Friday night dinner. She inhaled the fragrant flowers and smiled. One final clip, and her bouquet was complete. As she started inside the phone rang.
“Hello?” She said with a smile in her voice.
“Mom? Mom are you there?” It was Michelle.
“Yes, honey, it’s me. What’s all that noise?” From behind her daughter, Hope heard what sounded like people screaming.
“Mom, I’m on the plane-“ Michelle’s voice stopped and the sound of screaming rose up through the receiver. Hope’s smile faded.
“Michelle! Michelle sweetie what’s wrong?! What’s all that noise?”
“Mom, I wanted to call you to tell you I love you-“ The screams of strangers once again drowned out her daughter’s voice as the whine of an engine rose up. “Mom, our plane is going to crash.” Michelle screamed over the line.
Hope dropped to her knees. “Oh my God! Michelle!? Michelle are you there?”
The screams continued. This time, her daughter didn’t answer.
“Michelle? MICHELLE?”
The sound of an engine rising filled the receiver, accompanied by a chorus of terrorized passengers.
“MOMMY!” Michelle yelled into the phone, “I..love you-“
And the reception died.
Hope screamed her daughter’s name into the phone and with shaking hands attempted to call her back. There was no answer. She dropped the phone and sat with her back against the wall, her head in her hands.
Outside, Hope heard the sound of a car door close. She looked out the front window. It was her husband. As he started up the path from the driveway, he stopped to admire the roses. He smiled.
***
This post was written as an extension of this post.
Jim Mitchem/@jmitchem
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