The Swing | 5 Minute Freewrite: (Day 1870) | Prompt: ready

"Higher daddy! over the trees. Don't stop. It feels like Heaven up here." Stella giggled, then lifted her legs in the air.

"That's enough dreaming for today, young lady. Let's go try a bowl of that new flavor ice cream with those confetti sprinkles."

Suddenly Albert grabbed his stomach. He felt ill, so didn't really want ice cream. The pain intensified. He pushed in hard to control the stabbing sensation in his right side. Feeling worse, he bent over and sat on the grass for a few moments.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" Stella jumped off the swing and ran to her father's aid.

With six-year old Stella's help, he managed to stand. She placed his arm on her shoulder. He was sweating as an intense, burning sensation consumed his body.

From the back yard, they walked gingerly around the corner of their brick, two-story home.

Albert looked up and jerked his head as commotion from inside his home spilled out onto the front yard.

"Come, Stella, mommy's got ice cream waiting." He took her hand and stepped inside the wide-open door.

For a moment, they stood looking at the flurry of action as his wife, Joanna, yelled, "Everybody ready? We don't want to be late."

Surprised he didn't remember any family plans, he asked, "Where are we going?"

No response.

Puzzled, Albert stared at the door, then canvassed the living room, before walking over his recliner. A gold-edged, folded program lay on the edge of his side table.

His head swirled. His breath grew irregular. Flashes of light with screeching tires pounded his head. It was the date, six days ago, on the program that terrified him. But he refused to believe the evidence the scene was suggesting.

Stumbling backward, he covered his mouth and turned away. The program gently fell from the table and floated until it landed on the stained carpet next to his feet.

"What's wrong, daddy? Why are you upset? We need to go now! Mommy is leaving us!" Stella's eyes grew large. She shook her hands away in the air as usual when upset.

He didn't want to alarm her, so composed himself. Attempting to calm her, he cupped her small face in his hands and kissed her on the cheek to prevent her from seeing the program.

He stood up and continued to peruse his surroundings. He grasped her hand and walked slowly to the kitchen, looking out the window he'd replaced last year.

On the curb, the full trash bin with lid open, stood denying access to the bags that hung over its side. The overgrown grass was begging to be cut. The soaked lawn, taking in additional water as the sprinkler swirled, was drowning. The opened mail box, stuffed with numerous envelopes, was refusing to accept one more delivery.

I'd never leave my yard in disarray like that, he thought, smiling.

Parked in front of his house, a large, black vehicle sat waiting. He watched as his wife and rest of his family piled in, then drove off.

Back and forth the swing glided as though he and Stella were still enjoying their father and daughter play time.

"Stella, it's time to go."

"But daddy, I want to go with mommy."

"We can't, baby."

"Why not?" Stella asked, sniffling loudly.

"You remember last week on our outing to get that new ice cream flavor? Albert waited for her to nod, then continued, "well something happened. We weren't able to come home."

Stella was sobbing uncontrollably now.

"Shhhh...listen baby. Everything will be fine. Look at those bright sparkling gems over the swing? Let's go check them out. I'll bet we can go higher than before and find a bowl of that new flavor ice cream you wanted."