Living with you is a Challenge

 

                Eric sat on the edge of his bed thinking about the many decisions that had been made over the last thirty years and wondering how his current lifestyle would be different if different decisions had been made during this time. His heart and mind were a maelstrom of different ideas, different thoughts, and different paths, forcing him to wonder about a different future. Releasing a long, frustrated sigh, he flopped back onto his mattress and knew that there was only one path forward.

               “A different perspective, I need a different perspective,” he grumbled to himself. Psychologists talk about viewing one’s life and life decisions from a ten-thousand-foot view, I wonder what I’ll see if I take that approach? Feeling like he was in the middle of a tornado, he closed his eyes and saw himself ascending a tower to look down upon the small city in which he and his lived. “They look like ants,” he thought, “maybe I’ll just watch for a while and see what comes from taking on this perspective.”

               The wind was slight and the temperature was comfortably warm, allowing him to focus on everything that was going on far below him. “Okay, be careful, be attentive, and remember what you see from those you know,” he said. It was at that moment that he realized that most of those below him were surrounded by a dark cloud but there were a few who emanated a golden glow but number was very small. “That’s really curious,” he said to himself.

               The sound of someone calling his name pulled him from his vivid imagination and high-level view. Pulling himself to his feet, he descended the stairs to find that dinner was ready and everyone seemed to be grumpy about his late arrival. “Sorry, everyone,” he said, “I dozed off for a few minutes and was having an incredibly vivid dream. Dinner looks really good.”

               Vigorously rubbing his face, he realized that everyone at the table emanated that same golden glow except for one person who was surrounded in a dark cloud and always appeared grumpy and sullen. “Hey, I was thinking that after dinner we all could take a walk and enjoy the sunshine, the gentle breeze, and the beauty of nature.” The response did not come as a surprise, as those who were glowing gold all responded positively and the dark, sullen one, quickly finished her dinner, left the table, and barked orders for everyone to clean up before they all left for their walk.

               Within twenty minutes, everyone completed their dinner, and rose to clear their places, organize the kitchen, find their shoes and jackets and hurry outside for a fun filled family walk, save one person who merely grumbled in her solitude. He and those with him weaved through a number of residential neighborhoods and as they walked, he realized that most of those they passed by or interacted with carried the same dark cloud and sullen attitude.

               “Hey everyone, I have been thinking about how important it is to be filled with joy, to be kind to others, and to always do good to those around you,” he said. “Being a light and a joy to everyone you meet will make our community a better place.” Darkness slowly began to settle, prompting everyone to increase their speed and return home. As they all pushed into the house, Eric found a note on the kitchen table, calling him a number of foul, crude, and vulgar names, complaining that they had all abandoned her and she was now gone forever.

               He quickly shoved the note into his pocket to listen to the children wander around the house calling the name of the one now missing. “It looks like she’s gone,” one of them said. “This is really odd, I wonder why she just disappeared without saying anything?”

               “I don’t think we have anything to worry about,” Eric said. “As you get older and interact with different people, you’ll come to realize that people will oftentimes make bad decisions without giving any consideration to the consequences of their actions. Everyone needs to shower or bathe tonight before going to bed. I guess we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

               A round of arguments, complaints, and demands for who would shower first erupted as everyone hurried to their bedrooms to gather whatever was necessary to make the evening come to a conclusion. Sixty minutes passed and the final child emerged from the shower with the suggestion that they all watch a movie together before going to bed. “I think that’s a great idea,” Eric said. “It is always good to do things together as a family. I’ll make some popcorn while you all decide on which movie to watch.”

               Bumping around the kitchen, Eric generated two massive bowls of popcorn, and a case of soda from the fridge to find that the children decided on an action movie. He passed out the snacks and drinks, dimmed the lights and called for someone to start the movie so the hour didn’t get too late. “You all have school tomorrow and I have work, so let’s not get to bed too late tonight.”

               The movie ended amidst munching of popcorn and the popping open of soda cans. “Alright, everyone brush your teeth and get to bed as soon as possible,” he said. “I’ll clean up while you get yourselves in order.” Following a mini stampede, the house was silent within twenty minutes, giving him time to get the house clean and in order. “Wow, what a weird night,” he grumbled. “Looking at this from a ten-thousand-foot perspective, I wonder what I’ll find in the morning.”

               “As much as I love a good metaphor,” he thought, “the events of this evening are like someone who deliberately smashes each finger with a hammer without giving any thought of the consequences.” Eric lay down in the center of the living room floor, took several deep breathes, and relaxed every inch of his body. “Alright, get moving,” he grumbled.

               Rising to his feet in a perfectly relaxed state, he locked all the doors and windows to take a shower and climb into an empty bed. “A challenge,” he said to himself, “that is exactly what this evening has become. Living with this kind of nonsense is a serious challenge. I wonder what I’ll find in the morning?”

               Pulled from a beautiful slumber, the door bell stirred him moments after his alarm sounded. “Oof, who would be ringing my doorbell at this hour?” he wondered. He quickly pulled himself from bed, threw on some clothes and hurried to the front door to find two police officers looking depressed and apologetic.

               “Hello, sir,” one of them said. “We have some terrible news to share with you. We received a call from an anonymous caller about four hours ago. They reported that they saw someone throw themselves from a bridge into oncoming traffic to be destroyed after striking the pavement. We were able to gather her information and came over at what seemed like a reasonable time.

               Eric could feel the contents of his stomach rise up into his throat, to then lean upon the doorframe and wonder how he would communicate this message to the still sleeping children. “I am so sorry for your loss, sir,” the other officer said. “We’ll need you to come to the hospital at some point today and confirm her identity.”

               “Yes, of course, I can do that later this morning,” he answered. Eric then watched as the two officers returned to their car and drive away. “Okay, Eric, act normal, get the kids ready for school and invent a story that she will not be returning. You can tell them after you visit the hospital. We’ll consider it abandonment and not suicide.” He slipped into the kitchen and started a large pot of oatmeal to fill the children with a meal of nutritional value.

               “Okay, Eric, you need to come up with a believable story, so the kids won’t see through the deception. Oh, I know, I’ll say that she stopped by to say that she would never return and had more important things to do.” The padding of feet sounded on the stairs and he was soon joined by all five children at the dining room table. Breakfast was served, the food was consumed, and the children quickly changed into their school clothes to disappear for the day.

               As he watched the school buses come and go, he collapsed on the couch, knowing that he had an unavoidable journey to the hospital to confirm her identity. After two hours of work from home, he explained his situation to his boss and made the tragic journey across town to the hospital. He inquired at the front desk, explained the situation, and was given directions to the morgue. He approached the door and was invited in as the doctor in charge pulled back the sheet to expose a pale and slightly blue face. “Ugh, yes, that is her,” he said. “This is not how a relationship is supposed to end.”

               “I’ll give you a few minutes, sir,” the doctor said. “I need to go upstairs to a meeting for about an hour. You can speak whatever words you need to say. Let yourself out when you have exhausted your thoughts and ideas.”

               Eric looked down at the cold and lifeless corpse. “This is so stupid, you idiot,” he said. “All of this should not have happened this way. You clearly didn’t think about the final consequences of your actions. Living with you was a challenge but you clearly put an end to all of it. How am I going to explain this to the kids?”

               He returned home, completed his last six hours of work, began preparing dinner and welcomed each child when they entered the home. As they gathered together for dinner, Eric cleared his throat and explained that he had some terrible news to share. The look of despair on their faces tore at his heart. “I don’t know if anyone heard the doorbell this morning, but your mother stopped by and declared that she would never return and had better things to do. So, from now on, it will be you kids and me keeping everything in order. We have no way to communicate or connect with her; she gave no more information other than the fact that she would not return.”