|UNSTE∆DY|

My father finally arrived when it was almost dark outside.

We heard his truck pull up, and Harley jumped up to go get him.

Minutes later, she was dragging him through the fence that surrounded the back yard. He seemed tired, and worn out, but all that changed when he saw Baylor's unconscious body in the grass.

"I'm sorry daddy, we were just playing, and he fell down..." Harley started.

His face went pale, and he took off in a frantic dash towards us. "Harley, where's your mother?!" He asked her.

"She's asleep again." Harley answered.

They both huddled over him. My father checked his pulse, and a tiny spark of relief flooded over him. He must have found a heart beat.

"He's still alive. Go get in your car seat." He commanded her.

She ran towards the front yard while my father carefully lifted Baylor in his arms.

Tears were flowing down my own face now even though I knew he would be okay.

Josiah pulled me into an embrace. "Do you want to go somewhere else to take a break?" He asked.

I knodded my head. When he let me go, we were in a huge green field on a sunlit day. More soft grass surrounded us, but a knitted picnic blanket was beneath our feet.

I sat down next to a closed basket, and he joined me.

I tried to take my mind off of what I just saw, maybe distract myself with some questions. For the first time in however long I've been here, no questions came to mind. None that really mattered anyway.

"I can't believe you aren't loading me down with questions right now." Josiah said with a smile. I think that was an attempt to cheer me up.

"I can't stop thinking about what happened. Besides, you never answer the juicy questions anyway."

His grin widened. "I answer the ones that will benefit you. I'm here to help you, not hurt you."

As usual, I didn't quite understand what he meant.

"I brought some snacks for you." He said, raising his eyebrows a few times in a silly way. I've never seen playful Josiah, he's always so serious. The one day I'm not in the mood is the day he decides to have a personality.

"I don't want snacks." I said, shutting him down.

He nudged my arm. "Come on Harley, I brought some of your favorite foods." He said.

This actually did spark my curiosity, and he noticed. I don't really remember what foods I liked, but it would be nice to know a little bit more about myself.

He pulled the basket over in front of us. "I brought some cookies, chocolate chip specifically." He said in a taunting tone.

"My grandmother's cookies were my favorite." I do remember that. "Those won't be as good anyway."

He pulled one out, and took a bite. "I don't know Harley, they are pretty good to me."

They did smell really good.

I took one from the basket, and took a small bite. They tasted exactly like my grandma's cookies. I think they were her cookies. "How did you...?" I stopped myself before I asked another unanswered question. "I'll just enjoy them."

He smiled wide. He knew he had just provided me with the best cookies in the world.

After I had eaten three, he offered me a mason jar with hot tea in it. The tag read "chamomile". I wasn't sure I had ever had it before, but it was delicious. "This is awesome! Where have I had this before?"

"It's from a tea shop you and Baylor used to go to after school. It's your favorite order, chamomile tea with two sugar cubes." Josiah answered.

His eyes twinkled as he watched me enjoy the snacks.

After our small meal, we laid back and watched the clouds float by for a while.

Puffy white ones were in the sky today. They are my favorite kind, because they have so much dimension to them. They look like they would make really nice pillows.

"I don't really like knowing my story." I said. "I thought I wanted to remember everything, but it's not going so good."

Josiah inhaled deeply before responding. "Bad things happen to everyone, and I'm sorry to tell you this, but your story only gets worse from here."

I swallowed hard. I think I knew that already, but I didn't like him confirming it so directly.

He turned to face me with his head propped on his hand. "The bad things are what makes a person, or rather their reactions to them. Anyone can sail through life when everything is going great, but it takes a strong person to make the best out of the bad things." His warm hand curled around mine. "You are strong Harley. You can get through anything life throws at you.  You are prepared."

I took in a deep breath, "Well, I guess I'm ready to see the next part of my story." I said, not really sure if I was. It's best to get it over with quickly so I can die in peace.

He didn't even respond, we just popped up in my parents room, sitting on the same couch as before.

My mother was still asleep, but it was dark outside now. The alarm clock on the bedside table read 1:03 a.m.

"Is my dad back from the hospital?" I asked.

"Listen." Josiah said, pointing to his ear.

Suddenly, a car door slammed in the front yard. I hopped up to peer out the window. My dad had Baylor balled up in his arms and a half asleep Harley behind him.

I stepped out of the bedroom quietly, as if I may wake up my mom. Obviously I wouldn't, especially since living people weren't able to do it. I headed up a flight of stairs behind my dad. A single bedroom waited for us at the top.

Inside were two twin beds on either side, a bunch of stuffed animals, and kid drawings hanging all over the walls.

He placed Baylor underneath a blanket with cars printed all over it. I heard a slight mumble from Baylor, so that's a good sign.

Harley watched over him carefully, holding on to my dad's arm tightly. "He's going to be okay Harley." My father assured her.

He lifted her in his arms and tucked her in her own bed.

"Goodnight sweetie, I love you." He whispered.

"Daddy?" She said before he could walk out the door.

"Yes?" He asked, turning to face her.

"Is mommy sick?" She asked. Her eyes were filled with tears.

He hesitated before answering, perhaps figuring out the best way to word his response. "Yes, but she'll get better sweetie, I promise." He grabbed her teddy bear from the dresser and walked it over to her. "Good night." He said, then kissed her forehead.

He walked right through me and the door, and headed back to his bedroom.

I returned to the seat next to Josiah just as my dad eased into the room.

"Anna, wake up." He said sternly.

She jumped slightly, but otherwise didn't respond.

He sat down on the bed, shaking her shoulder. "Anna, wake up." He said louder.

She mumbled something that I couldn't understand.

"I'm serious, wake up, we need to talk."

"W-what is it?" She said in a groggy tone.

"When did you go to sleep today?" He asked first.

"About eight thirty I think." She said, still out of it.

"I don't think that's true. I got home right before dark and you were sleeping long before then."

"It could have been earlier, why?"

He ignored her question, and returned another instead. "Where were the twins when you decided to take a nap?"

She paused to think. "They were watching TV, they were fine."

He clenched his jaw tightly. "Something happened tonight while you were in here doped up." He said. His volume increased with every word, though he was trying to stay calm.

"What do you mean?" She asked. Her eyebrows were knitted tightly. She honestly has no idea what happened.

He brushed his fingers through his hair with frustration. "Baylor fell from the tree house, Anna." He was trying so hard to stifle his yell, but he wasn't doing a very good job.

She gasped. "How?! Is he okay?!"

"Apparently the kids were playing in the tree house, and he fell off the ladder. He has a broken arm."

"Oh my gosh! I had no idea!" She exclaimed.

"You were supposed to be watching them! Don't you see that? This is your fault! He could have gotten a concussion, or more serious injuries. Our son could have died tonight while you were passed out in here!"
His anger flowed freely through his words now.

My mother covered her face with her hands. "I'm so sorry David." She said between sobs.

He didn't speak, he just stared at the wall while she cried.

"You're sick, Anna. You need help, more than I can give you." His voice was quiet now, which somehow made it even scarier. "You have to go see a therapist or...or the kids and I are leaving you."

She unraveled herself from the tangled ball she was in. "David, please no! I'll go! I'll go see someone. Just please, don't leave."
She pleaded.

Shiny tears slid down my father's cheeks. "Let's just go to sleep." He said, and turned off the light.