The soft footsteps of my five-year-old son, James Junior, who my husband and I nicknamed JJ, drew my attention from the screen of the television. He should be in bed but here he was in his pyjamas, a thumb in his mouth and his cuddly teddy bear clutched with the other hand to his chest.
"Sweetheart, It's almost midnight. What are you doing out of bed?" I asked as I drew him into my arms. I buried my face in his neck and sniffed in his warm, sweet scent and somehow it anchored me against the anxiety and sorrow I felt.
A warm bulk of fluffy coat bumped my leg and I knew Scooter, our Bearded Collie pet dog, had come downstairs with JJ. I ruffled his head as well.
"Mummy, are you okay?" My sensitive JJ asked. I smiled hesitantly. I did not know how to answer his question. I just held him to myself and glued my eyes to the TV.
On the screen was the breaking news that an airplane belonging to Air Maxina flight AMX-14700 crashed beside the Jetty river and there was barely any survivor. James, my husband, was on board the same flight on his way home from his work conference having been gone for a week.
It was our seventh wedding anniversary and he wanted to make it home on time so we could celebrate as a family. His company had booked their return flight for the next day but I wanted my husband with me today. It seemed I made a terrible mistake cajoling him to make it home today because I missed him so much.
In excitement, I had put JJ to bed and came downstairs, eagerly waiting for James to come home. To distract me a little, I turned on the TV. The late night news anchor was in a heated debate on a political topic with three guests when he stopped momentarily and tapped his index finger to his right ear.
The TV screen cut out the guests and zeroed in on his face as he announced, "We apologize to our viewers but we have to stop this program at this point to bring you this breaking news. There has been a fatal plane crash. Air Maxina flight AMX-14700 has been reported to have crashed close to the Jetty river. Reports just reaching us says the pilots and crew attempted an emergency landing after one of its engines failed and combusted."
I think I must have blanked out because there was a ringing sound in my ears as I blinked my eyes repeatedly to read the same news in bold letters as it scrolled round in a circle at the bottom of the screen. I gasped and cupped my face. Oh my God! James!
"We have a live view of the crash scene now. Let us take you there. Viewers are hereby advised that these scenes may shock and disgust you." The news anchor solemnly gave the warning as the tv changed the screen to reveal the sight of the crash beside the river.
This was real. I slowly slipped down from the sofa I was sitting on to the rug as I curled into myself, tears flowing down my cheek. No. No, please. No. Dear God, no, please. My husband.
I bit down on my knuckles to keep myself from bawling loudly. What have I done?
"Report says there seem to be no survivors but the rescue team, volunteers and EMTs are working hard to see if there are…" I scrambled to pick the remote and turn off the TV when I heard JJ coming downstairs. I quickly wiped my face with my palms.
JJ, Scooter and I huddled close for a long time that I had no idea time had passed. Scooter raised his head, whined a little and went to stand by the front door, wagging his tail. It was 12.45 am. The doorbell rang. JJ had fallen asleep in my arms. I sniffed and gently laid him on the sofa.
The doorbell rang again. I dragged my feet to the door, my heart thumping out of fear. Are the officials here to tell me about my husband? I took a deep breath, wiped my hands on my dress and slowly opened the door as the chain lock would allow.
I could not believe my eyes. There stood my husband of seven years, wet from head to toe, and looking a bit dirty. His eyes were stormy and intense and I knew he had been to the land of the dead and back.
"Jessica." He whispered because I was in shock. His eyes travelled from my hair to stop at my mouth and back to my eyes. I could not stop staring at him. "Jessica, open the door. It's me."
Tears threatened. "James! The news...the crash."
"Shh, I know. I barely made it. I fell into the river and it saved me. I'm here now. Let me in."
I shut the door to unlock the chain and opened it widely. He was empty-handed without his luggage. It must have been lost in the crash. I jumped into his arms as he squeezed me to himself and buried his head in my hair. He was home.
I like that Scooter was the pet
And you gave us midnight without saying it
And yay to the river, it saved James :D
Thank you! I decided to portray Scooter as something other than a motor vehicle or footboard and a pet dog came to mind.
Yes, yes. The river saved James! 😁
Hello @kemmyb. What a lovely story of survival. Any type of fatal disaster like this has become more frequent over the years.
Reading the flow of the story, probably the wife was so upset as to think that she would be notified by someone knocking at her door within 45 minutes of the crash that her husband had either not survived or did survive.
Also, it certainly was a miracle in the breaking news of the plane crash that happened at midnight that her husband was able to survive and arrive home within 45 minutes of the crash. He had someone watching over him.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you @justclickindiva for reading. I believe in miracles and thats what this story points out.
The narrator was very upset and heartbroken seeing the news and knowing her husband was on the flight. The crash could have occurred a while back before the tv picked it up... So, I'll say, it could be more than 45 minutes!
I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
Yes, it could have occurred before the station picked up the event. Anyway, it takes a miracle to survive a crash of any type, so I certainly believe it can happen. Just waking up each morning and making it through the day is a miracle that we must always be grateful for.
We have guardians of a higher power watching over and protecting us, helping us to make it through whatever our difficulties. In that, I believe 100%.
Thanks for sharing.
Well said, ma'am! I completely agree. Life itself is a miracle.
Take care and have a relaxing, happy Sunday.
Wow.. is this fiction or real?
Thankful for the happy ending, my heart sank along side that of the protagonist 😅
Haha! It's just fiction and I'm glad you enjoyed reading it.
Thanks a lot for the visit and your lovely comment. 🙂
Oh, alright.
You're welcome.
Yeah... Great.. Thanks for the happy ending 😊
Haha! It's always a pleasure to have you visit my post. I'm glad you like the happy ending. Thanks, Preets! 😊
Thanks @pixresteemer! 🙂
The story touches all the right notes as it brings us through a peaceful night at home, to sorrow and then to joy. The temptation to use excessive language in this setting is strong. You resist that temptation and the story benefits from your restraint. A well-developed story!
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Thank you for consistently commenting on the work of your fellow authors.
Thank you so much for your encouraging comment and support, as always! 🙂
Even though the title of the story gives the key to reading and the reader knows that a miracle will happen we can feel all the anguish, the deep pain and the feeling of guilt of the narrator.
The news has been ratified, but before the door is opened scooter already says, with his tail, that the miracle happened.
Well done, @kemmyb!
A good story would touch a reader and evoke some feelings. This is what I usually strive for and to make the story believable.
Yes, Scooter already knew the miracle had happened! Thank you for reading. I appreciate your insightful comment. 🙂
Wow! I am excited with the sweet ending of this awesome story.
What a tragic moment it would have been for Jessica. She blamed herself for her husband's death not knowing the he survived and was on his way home to his family. It is indeed a miracle.
Scooter as the dog is creative 😅.
I enjoyed your story
Thank you! I love dogs and they are very sensitive. Scooter already knew the man of the house had arrived before Jessica knew.
Hehe, I'm glad you like the story. Thanks for your lovely comment. 🙂
What a riveting story, @kemmyb. We are swept away by the plight of the wife and her young son, and it's amazing when her husband turns out to be alive in the end. That would be an amazing survival story in real life!
It certainly would be, otherwise it would be heartbreaking for Jessica and her son.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your supportive comment. 😊
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Incredibly real story, and very intense :) I love the twist at the end! I would have expected if he lived he would be sent to the hospital whether he liked it or not.
!PIZZA !ALIVE
Agreed! Except the need to see his family having escaped death by a hair's breadth to let them know he's fine, pushed him to go home first. If the story had continued, he would have had to see the doctor!
Experience has taught that in the face of such an ordeal, the first place a person would turn to is family. Everything else comes second.
Thanks for reading. 🙂
And thank you for writing :) It was a great read! Have you written an episode of the Extra Normals yet?
Oh, I'm done with the Extra-Normals! Already wrapped it up few days ago. 😄
https://peakd.com/hive-150329/@kemmyb/the-extra-normals-an-unexpected-end-ii
I hope you like how I ended it and let me know your thoughts on it.
I will, probably tonight :) Right now I have too many messages to check, and regular engagement😂
Ah! I know you have to maintain your position at the top of the League. I understand! 😄 Keep it up!
Are you aware of the Inkwell Flash Fiction Contest?
I just posted my entry :) https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@wrestlingdesires/where-is-marina-my-entry
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It certainly was a miracle! When a person survives a plane crash or any accident, its a second chance at life. Thanks for the compliment and for reading. 🙂