Bad News Always Comes In The Dead Of Night

Posted on Tue Oct 23rd, 2018 @ 5:29pm by

514 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: The Emerald Road
Location: Samantha's Quarters

Sam was just starting to doze off when a priority message came through to her console. The computer had told her it was from her parents because she'd programmed it to inform her so should they ever send her something. Clad in only a silk teddy she walked to the table and sat down, turned the monitor on to be greeted with the far too bright Federation symbol. She turned the brightness down a little as it stung her eyes to look at it, entered her code to open it. It was from her Father.

Samantha,

I hope this message finds you well, I'm sorry that we have not been in contact much but things have been really busy. I'm sorry to have to tell you this in this manner, I would have liked to tell you face to face or in person, but your mother passed away yesterday.

She fell while she was cleaning through a glass table, the cat got under her feet. The EMT's that arrived did what they could then transported her to the Hospital. The surgery failed, complications brought on by age and she wasn't strong enough to undergo a second attempt. The Doctors did all they could for her. She died peacefully, no pain or anything, in her sleep. I was beside her all night.

I know this is not the best way to find out things like this but I wanted you to know now, before finding out later some time after.

I don't know if you will be back by then but the funeral is scheduled in 2 weeks. If you are not, or don't think you will be, if you want to saw something. Let me know. I know you and your mother didn't always get along, especially after joining the marines. But she always backed you in her own way. She would talk about her 'fighting girl' to everyone, they would ask about you too but she never stopped believing in you.

I'm sorry baby girl, I really am.

There was a moment where emotion failed to register even as the tears slipped down her cheeks. She had lost men before, soldiers, marines even those she called friends. In the marines its an accepted danger, a subconscious understanding that it will happen and in a way prepares you for when it does.

Family though, blindsides it all. Its personal, intimate, strikes to the core and nobody is every prepared for it when it comes. Samantha felt like her heart had been violently ripped from her chest, numbness swept through her limbs forcing her to stay seated in her moment of heartache.

After a minute Samantha managed to sob, she recalled the last thing she said to her mother, it was an argument, didn't even say good bye and ended the link. She would never have a chance to right that wrong and now will always regret it. She felt alone, cold, empty.

Like part of her was gone.

With shaking hands she typed a message to Annabelle.

I NEED YOU NOW!!!!!

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