Love in the Middle of Nowhere

Carrie frantically started digging with her bare hands, while dirt began to fly in the air. Ryan’s eyes began to burn, as he sneezed from all the dust Carrie was stirring up.

“Carrie!  Quit digging!”  Carrie continued as though Ryan had never spoken. “Carrie . . .”

“No!  You don’t know what it’s like to love a child, so you don’t know what it’s like to lose one.  Maybe I was wrong.  Maybe you really don’t care!”  Carrie screamed, tears streaming down her face.

“Carrie!  It’s O.K. . . .”Ryan pulled Carrie’s arm, trying his best to calm her down.  She beat on his chest with her fist.  She struggled to get out of his grasp.

“Stop!  Let go of me!  I have to find Annette!”

“Mommy, I’m right here.”  Carrie spun around, seeing her beautiful little girl standing next to her, frowning.  Ryan released his grip on Carrie.  She kneeled down, holding Annette close to her, feeling like a burden had been lifted.

“That’s what I was trying to tell you.”  Ryan softly spoke, and then he turned around and walked back to the hut.  Carrie turned her head, watching him walk with his shoulders slumped.  Carrie closed her eyes, feeling an ache in her chest.

“Are you O.K. honey?”  Carrie watched as Annette smiled up at her.

“Yes Mommy, I’m fine.”  Annette stood for awhile, studying her mom’s face.  “Mommy, I walked up the hill, and over there, to pick you a pretty flower, when all the dirt slid down the hill.  I’m sorry I scared you.”  Annette handed Carrie a hand full of dandelions.