For thislastrequest
Hide and Seek
"I've lost my baby daughter,
Though not misplaced.
I feel she's somewhere
Bound by neither time nor space.
Perhaps she sits before the Throne
With radiant face.
--Lisa L. Easterling
The ride home was silent, Danny never once letting go of AJ's hand. Upon arriving at the small beach-front bungalow, he saw to it that she didn't lift a finger. He sat on the edge of the tub and bathed her with the utmost gentility, making sure not a smear of the accident could be found on her skin. He dried and braided her hair to keep it out of her face before slipping her into one of his shirts and buttoning it up. Not trusting her legs, Danny carried his wife to bed and knelt next to the frame, stroking her face until sleep took her.
Once he was certain she wasn't waking, he set about tidying up. Danny cleaned the kitchen, did a load of laundry, and paid some bills online. He called the insurance company and filed the claim needed in order to pay for Gracie's funeral, simultaneously taking her off the policy and listening the poor phone agent who had obviously not been trained on what to say in the situation he found himself in. Jotting down the confirmation numbers, he then called the funeral home, talking out plans and arranging a meeting with the director for the next day.
When there was nothing left to do in the office, Danny finally headed upstairs for a shower, his body on auto-pilot even after hours and hours of dealing with the reality of his daughter's death. The water scalded his tan skin but Danny took no note, simply standing under the spray until all the shampoo and body wash were gone down the drain.
Dressing in a pair of light pajama pants and an old NJPD t-shirt, Danny combed his hair and padded to Grace's old room, wordlessly crawling into her twin-sized bed and curling up with a shuddered sigh.
He missed her more than he could even express.
"I've lost my baby daughter,
Though not misplaced.
I feel she's somewhere
Bound by neither time nor space.
Perhaps she sits before the Throne
With radiant face.
--Lisa L. Easterling
The ride home was silent, Danny never once letting go of AJ's hand. Upon arriving at the small beach-front bungalow, he saw to it that she didn't lift a finger. He sat on the edge of the tub and bathed her with the utmost gentility, making sure not a smear of the accident could be found on her skin. He dried and braided her hair to keep it out of her face before slipping her into one of his shirts and buttoning it up. Not trusting her legs, Danny carried his wife to bed and knelt next to the frame, stroking her face until sleep took her.
Once he was certain she wasn't waking, he set about tidying up. Danny cleaned the kitchen, did a load of laundry, and paid some bills online. He called the insurance company and filed the claim needed in order to pay for Gracie's funeral, simultaneously taking her off the policy and listening the poor phone agent who had obviously not been trained on what to say in the situation he found himself in. Jotting down the confirmation numbers, he then called the funeral home, talking out plans and arranging a meeting with the director for the next day.
When there was nothing left to do in the office, Danny finally headed upstairs for a shower, his body on auto-pilot even after hours and hours of dealing with the reality of his daughter's death. The water scalded his tan skin but Danny took no note, simply standing under the spray until all the shampoo and body wash were gone down the drain.
Dressing in a pair of light pajama pants and an old NJPD t-shirt, Danny combed his hair and padded to Grace's old room, wordlessly crawling into her twin-sized bed and curling up with a shuddered sigh.
He missed her more than he could even express.