The Life Beyond Read Free

play with me when I’m bored.”
    “Well, then we should probably hurry so the room is ready for her.”
    Side by side we ran our brushes across the wall. From the kitchen the smell of burnt cookies wafted over to us, and a moment later Mom’s curses sounded.
    I grinned.

Chapter 2
    Karen bustled around the bed, her lips tight with worry and her gray hair sweat-drenched. My back was pressed against the wall so I wasn’t in her way. Mom sat beside Dad. Her hands were caked in dirt and her skin was ashen beneath the layer of dust. She’d come running the moment she’d heart what was happening.
    Dad looked small and helpless as he lay in the bed. His eyes were closed, skin slick with perspiration and breathing labored.
    “That’s all I can do for him for now,” Karen said as she wiped her hands on a towel. It sounded final. Definite and hopeless.
    “What’s the matter with him? Is it … the rabies?” I whispered so no one else would hear.
    Karen gripped the door knob and slowly she turned. Her eyes flickered to Mom who clutched Dad’s hand while recounting her memories of their wedding and honeymoon in a hushed voice. Dad’s chapped lips turned up – it was his only movement.
    Whatever I’d hoped to see in Karen’s face wasn’t there. Tears sprang into my eyes. She touched my shoulder, her hands feather-light as though she was worried about breaking me. “It might be the result of the infection in his leg —”
    “But yesterday you said his leg was doing fine,” I interrupted.
    Pity flashed on her face. “Sherry, we can only wait. Tomorrow we’ll know more. Until he shows additional symptoms I can’t be sure.”
    Additional symptoms of rabies – that’s what she meant.
    Karen opened the door. Bobby and Joshua who’d been sitting on chairs in front of the cottage jumped up. Joshua glanced at me and whatever he saw told him all he needed to know. He took a step toward me but I shook my head and closed the door, leaving Bobby outside with Karen and Joshua. If he tried to console me, I’d break and I couldn’t risk it. I needed to be strong for my family.
    I braced myself and walked to Dad’s bedside. Mom looked up to me and I wanted to reassure her with beautiful lies and empty promises but no sound left my lips. Slowly her expression crumbled and she shook her head, shook it faster and faster until strands tumbled from her bun and whipped around.
    Dad’s eyes peeled open. I needed her to stop before he realized why she’d lost it. I gripped her shoulders too tightly. “Stop it,” I hissed. She winced, became still and sank into herself on the chair.
    Dad had seen it all. His eyes moved from Mom to me. It took all my strength to return his gaze and force a smile. “Karen said it’s the infection in your leg. You’ll be fine soon. Everything will be okay.” A tear trickled down my cheek. Why couldn’t I be stronger?
    Dad sat up with a groan and cupped my face. “I’m sure you’re right.”
    I nodded, not trusting my voice.
    “You’re so strong, Sherry, much stronger than I could ever be. You’ll keep our family safe while I can’t, won’t you?”
    “You’ll be back to your old strength soon, then we can keep them safe together.”
    Dad sank against his cushion. “I’m proud of you.” He licked his cracked lips. I held out a glass of water but he shook his head. “No. I’m not thirsty. Would you give your Mom and me a moment? I’d like to talk to her alone.”
    Mom didn’t look like she was in any state for a conversation but I kissed Dad’s cheek and walked out. Bobby and Karen had left, but Joshua was waiting. I took his hand and let him lead me to the spot on the brick wall where we liked to sit and overlook Safe-haven. He didn’t comment on my tears as he pulled me up onto the cold stone. We stretched out beside each other and stared at the sky. I felt so angry. How could the sun keep shining as if nothing had happened? How could it rise every morning when so many people