Gen. 5.21-Matthew Solo

I stood at the graveside, staring down into the hole that contained Kia’s body. Her final resting place. The minister was reciting some prayer. I heard Mom crying, Dad was comforting her. Why do we do this? Who does this whole process benefit? Kia was gone; she wouldn’t know who came out to mourn her. So what was the point? This whole exhibition was for those of us left behind. To pay our last respects. What did that even mean? Were we supposed to stand here and do our grieving before going on with the rest of our lives without that person? Were we supposed to try and make peace some sort of way if we had unresolved issues with the recently deceased? Kia was gone! She wouldn’t get to see our son grow up. She wouldn’t know that I was sorry for the choices I made that led us here. She wouldn’t know any of that, so me standing here as some man that didn’t even know her talked about how she was at peace now only served to anger me.

Continue Reading: >>

Gen. 5.20-Matthew

Dad tried to convince me not to do this. With everything that had happened yesterday and this morning, he told me I’d had a panic attack and passed out. He didn’t think I could handle any more stress, but I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t even know why I had to be here, they knew it was Kia, she was found in her room, but they said it was procedure. That same word Ms. Logan stated when she showed up. Everything was procedure. They needed her next of kin to make a positive ID, so here I stood looking down at my wife. I kept hoping this was a bad dream, that at any moment I’d wake and the nightmare would be over. She was gone. She’d spent the last few hours of her life probably scared and angry, thinking she was unwanted. Her father had abandoned her and then I sent her here. Why didn’t she believe I would come back for her? Why did she do this?

Continue Reading: >>

Gen. 5.19-Matthew

Mom and Dad said nothing as they drove me home. I’m sure they’d discussed plenty while I was knocked out from whatever they drugged me with. They were there when I woke up, so I knew I’d been out for a while. Mom’s eyes were red, so I knew she’d been crying. Again something I’d done had my mother in tears. Shannon had called them, she’d met them during one of their visits and I was thankful I’d had them down as back up emergency contacts on the paperwork I’d had to fill out with her agency. I’d wanted to thank her for all her help, but she was gone when I woke up. Mom and Dad did tell me she somehow managed to talk me out of being arrested. The hospital and the orderly that I’d hit wanted to press charges, but after she explained to them what all went on that day, they were sympathetic to my emotional state.

Continue Reading: >>

Gen. 5.18-Matthew

“…nine…ten…eleven…twelve…” I felt like the only sound in the room was that of my rapid heartbeat. Two words. Ms. Logan spoke those two words without care or concern. My son was alright according to her, but we couldn’t take him home.

Continue Reading: >>

Gen. 5.17-Matthew

I sat at my desk taking a quick quiet moment. Work was the one place I could be on top of things. Most days the store ran like a well-oiled machine. I had reliable people that really stepped up while I was gone. Today, however, was not one of those days. My shift manager called in sick because her daughter was up all night running a fever. Because she needed to be out, I had to come in and open since the cashiers and other department personnel didn’t have keys. Chuck was thirty minutes late due to a flat tire so that left me having to help with the registers since we were unusually busy right at opening. I was lucky that Shannon was able to come in earlier to accommodate my change in schedule.

Continue Reading: >>

Gen. 5.16-Matthew

Being a father was great, frightening, stressful, and wondrous all at once. I loved Cameron and for the most part he was a good baby. We’d stayed in Barnacle Bay for two weeks. It was easier since Cameron had an issue with jaundice and since we were going to use Gi-Gi as his doctor, staying there until he was better just made sense. Mom loved us being right across the street and was a big help in those first few days. My sisters were all fascinated by Cameron and kept asking to keep him. I’d taken time off from the store because I wanted to spend time with him and Kia and to keep an eye on her. Six weeks; six short weeks and my life had changed so completely.

Continue Reading: >>

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

So I'm only a day late this time. YAY ME! LOL As of yesterday As Life Goes turned 2. This story has come a long way from it's 'just for fun' beginnings.

Thanks for the support over the last two years! I appreciate each reader and I hope to keep you guys entertained for another 2 years.

Continue Reading: >>