The receiver in hand, “hello?” Her body tensed up as an unusual silence hung in the air. The passage dark, the kids fast asleep in their cozy beds while the storm continued outside.
Suddenly, without warning, she crumbled to the floor, the wall against her back, still clinging to the cordless phone. “No, no, you must have the wrong number!” came her whispered scream into the receiver.
Pulling her legs up, she dropped the phone, oblivious to the voice that echoed in the eerie hallway. “Mrs. Rubain, are you there? Can you hear me?” Then the beep as the line was cut and all that remained was the guttural sounds of her cries.
Covering her mouth with both hands, shaking as she stared at the sliver of light that peeked through the children’s bedroom door. Pushing her back against the cold wall, as if to become one with mortar and brick, she let out a freakish shrill that shook the entire building as her eyes opened wide with shock. “Nooooo, Noooo!”
Seconds later the kids came storming from their bedroom, eyes wide with fear as they jumped on top of her, throwing their arms around her neck and waist, “Mommy, mommy, what’s wrong. You scaring us!?” Came the words as they hysterically began to cry. Only 9 and 7 years old, the apples of his eye.
An impeding reality, clung to the darkness as she wondered how to tell her children. Her tears soaking their hair, holding onto both kids, gulping in big breaths of air, as if she’s been underwater for too long.
“Daddy’s dead” she said, clinging onto both kids as they lay crying on the cold passage floor . . .
Said Rubain’s body was found two meters from his vehicle. He was on his way home from his company’s end of year dinner. Three beers and a few whiskey’s later, he believed himself sober enough to drive. What he failed to consider was that many other road users were thinking the exact same thing – both driver’s involved in the head-on collision died at the scene of the accident, both behind the wheel while under the influence.
Arrive Alive, Don’t Drink and Drive!
“Said is Dead”, is this week’s title of a tandem blog, 3 bloggers 1 title. All published on the same day at the same time. Read my fellow tandem blogger’s interpretation by following the below links. Comments are welcome!
Wow Chev you have managed to captivate me from beginning to the end as usual. Absolutely amazing piece.
Sadly it’s that time of year when the road accident numbers will be on the rise yet many people still think it’s ok to drink and drive… Thank you for writing this piece and I do hope that people will read and not only take note of your brilliance 😉 but also the message in it.
Thank you Celeste 🙂
Really really really so very very very good! A grwat reminder to us all about the consequences of drunk-driving. Well written, Chevone
Thank you Shelley, I honestly had no clue how “Said is Dead” was going to evolve/end when I started typing. Grateful that it transformed into a meaningful message.
I couldn’t read read this the first time. It took me a while. That phone call – that scene – it’s one I have lived through.
Well played on this theme. Well played. With an incredible message to share.
Dave, I’m so sorry that you’ve experienced such devastating loss. Sending you a very big hug! xoxo
Thanks Chevonne – this piece of yours is such an important one. It’s not just a message of the importance of not drinking and driving – it gives a deep insight into the acute pain and devastation the loss of a loved one through the often inevitable result.
I really wanted to read this. I really tried but it’s too close to home – I’m so bloody sensitive. I clicked the link thinking I was brave. I read the first line… now I’m commenting because I’m glad you’ve written this. More awareness needs to be created. Stories like these change lives!
Thanks Jonelle, the roads are so scary – I don’t have a drivers’license, my anxiety levels rise just by sitting in the front passenger seat when I see how people drive on the roads. Just the other day I was crossing at the pedestrian crossing, the green man said go, but some driver did not have the patience to wait for me to cross, and shouted “get out of the road” . . . Our lives are precious, and I hope that people realise that their actions on the road great impacts on the lives of the people around them.
Be safe on the roads my friend.