Short Stories

Sadie

                  Alena sat on the living room floor, giggling and talking as if she was deep in conversation. There was no one else in the room. I walked over and knelt next to her. "Alena? Who are you talking to, sweetie?"

           "My new friend Sadie!" she replied. Oh. She must have an imaginary friend. She's a child. I'm not surprised. "I love Sadie already!"Alena continued. "She looks just like me! And she's my age too!" I felt my entire body freeze. I keep trying to tell myself it's only a coincidence that she has a 6-year-old imaginary friend. That looks exactly like her. That's named Sadie. 'Could it be? No. That's not possible,' I pushed the thought out of my mind and asked, "Where is Sadie?" Alena pointed to a spot on the floor and responded, "She's right there! Look! She's waving at you." I waved at the floor and forced a smile. Alena giggled and said, "Sadie says your smile is really pretty."

"Well, thank you, Sadie."

"Mom? Can I go introduce Sadie to Autumn?"I nodded and Alena hurried to put her shoes on and ran out the door.

I sighed and stood. ' It's just a coincidence, Lyn.'

~*~

            The van came out of nowhere. It crashed into the side of the car, sending it into a lamp post. Lyn shakily brought her head up from the deployed airbag. She tried to pull her leg free. She heard the sirens. She turned to her husband and tears began streaking down her face. She saw a blur of colors through her tears. She jumped at the sound of a voice. "Hello?" She turned to a blur of blue and quickly wiped her eyes. The man opened what remained of the car door and helped Lyn pry her leg free, all while attempting to reassure her that everything is fine.

          After what felt like an eternity, Lyn was pulled out of the car and laid on a stretcher. As she was wheeled toward an ambulance, she turned her head. The paramedics had to hold her down onto the stretcher. She helplessly watched the body bag disappear, tears threatening to fall. She blinked them away as the ambulance sped off.

~*~

Look what she's done, Alena.

"What do you mean, Sadie?"

Mom ruined everything.

"How?"

She killed Dad, Alena.

She didn't speak.

Alena, didn't you hear me?

No response.

Alena, listen to me! Dad is dead and it's all Mom's fault!

"NO!"

Yes.

"Sadie, I told you to stop trying to scare me."

I'm not trying to scare you. I saw him. I saw them wheel him away.

Tears. "No you didn't"

I did.

"No. I don't believe you."

You must.

"I won't."

Must I prove it to you?

"How would you do that?"

A small piece of paper lands in Alena's lap. "What is this?"

Turn it over.