‘I will save him.’
Gurri looked at his wife. They were in the supermarket, aisle seven. He was having a hard time keeping his hands in his pockets. The sweet delights on the shelves were begging him to take them home. Glazed donuts and chocolate chip cookies were his favorite.
Natasha had been quieter than usual. So her sudden statement surprised him. But her words were familiar. Whenever the depressed woman saw a teenage boy, she wanted to become his savior. A mother who could guide, love, and reprimand.
Gurri knew it wasn’t random bizarreness. The reason was their dead son. The boy who hadn’t lived to see his seventeenth birthday. He had died in a freak accident, run over by a car whose front tyre had burst. The driver had lost control.
Natasha had never been the same after that. She had blamed him, herself, and the world but nothing came of it. Life didn’t stop. They had to move on. Gurri reached for a box of chewy choco-chips. He would need the sugary comfort when they reached home.
He turned and saw Natasha standing behind the boy she wanted ‘to save’. The teenager had no idea of the woman who stood so close to him. The blaring music filtering from his headphones was the obvious reason.
Gurri wouldn’t let Natasha make a fool of herself. He would protect her.
But the woman was adamant. She needed to speak to the boy. It was her duty to warn him. Death could be lurking just around the corner.
So Gurri witnessed Natasha’s desperate speech and the boy’s apparent bewilderment. Neither could hide their true emotions. And the boy was soon rushing towards the exit, his eyes wide and his mouth hurling expletives. He would probably tell his friends about the crazy woman at the supermarket.
Natasha slumped to her knees. Gurri wished he could console her.
But there would be more opportunities.
The woman would not rest till she had saved every teenager.
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I feel for her. I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child in a freak accident like that.
It is unimaginable. Can break a person forever.
Thank you. 🙂
After reading so many of your dark stories, I expected the guy she was trying to save to be crushed by something before he could exit the door. 🙂
I was actually thinking of a twisted, dark ending. But the heart and mind just swerved another way.
Thank you. 🙂
I thought exactly the same!
I chuckled at this too sikhcomics and thought the same. Maybe in his attempt to escape knocked over and crushed by the huge comic stand?
Bad luck sikhcomics, Terveen’s heart and mind swerved to miss the comic stand. Oh well……
Heartbreaking! Grief can break a person! It is a very well written story, Terveen.
Thank you so much, Aaysid. 🙂
Grief can do so much damage. Very hard to predict or explain.
The maternal instincts overpower rationality and you were able to bring it out in such a wonderful way, enjoyed reading!!
Thank you so much, Deepak. Yes, rationality often ceases to exist in such grim situations. Hopefully, time is able to dilute the pain.
Time does that in most situations but the one you picked upon was probably an aberration!Great stuff!!
So sad, also so understandable. Made me want to hug my fifteen year old son for just that little bit too long.
Thank you, Britta.
May those who face such trauma find the strength to heal.
Aisle 7 was the weddings aisle too if I remember. Unless that was a different supermarket? Have I lost you?…..
I remember, Don. 🙂
I was wondering why Aisle 7 sounds so familiar.
The mind holds on to good things.
It also holds on to bad things…..
Damage done never forgotten……
So think carefully before you say things……
YES. I think you had some sort of premonition. This definitely applies to my day…
Dark and scarring – the worst possible nightmare for a parent 🙁
-David
It is, David. Something that changes one forever.
Thank you. 🙂
There is an old couple living not far away from me. They lost their son two decades ago. Rumor has it that they have never been the same. Their son was quite wild and he had some wild friends. One day they all got drunk and drove a car for fun in the highway. There’s a huge accident and two of the joyriders died. A happy family was torn and the parents seemed to grow 10 years older just in one day–people told me so.
That’s really very tragic. Youngsters often don’t know the danger they put themselves in. One mistake and it’s all over. Those left behind must suffer in different ways. Thank you for sharing this.
Fantastic writing, Terveen. Grief is a powerful force, and can hang onto us a lot longer than people realize, or, in some instances, are willing to accept. A heart breaking story, yet one that happens all the time, I think. Wonderful story. Have a beautiful Sunday, my friend. ☺️
Thank you so much, Jeff. Yes, acceptance is the bottom line. Is one willing to accept? And that’s where grief can end or simply linger on even for a lifetime. You always say the wisest things. Thank you. Have a great Sunday too. 🙂
You’re most welcome, Terveen. Always. Indeed, and agreed. Reflecting back the wisdom in your story, my friend. Thank you, Sunday is gorgeous here, with the sun shining brightly. 😊
Donuts and chocolate chip cookies? I’m hanging out with Gurri. Natasha would have been better off just texting that kid. I was half expecting him to be death himself. “Excuse me, sir. Death could be lurking around the corner.” “Uh…Yeah I know.” But your ending is perfect as usual. Great stuff, Terveen!
Haha. Thanks a lot, Tony. That would’ve been really eerie. But it’s a creative angle. Imagine…
And donuts and chocolate chip cookies would have the three of us hanging out together. 🙂
It’s hard to save every lad she bumps into, Terveen. But, it is an emotional upheaval within her that she is trying to overcome. Loved the story, as always with a message.:)
Thank you so much, Shobana. 🙂
Yes, the woman is trying to find closure but many times the remedy lies within.
That must be a trauma to live with for the rest of her life. Poor woman. Greatly captured the pain of losing someone who means the world to you. Great story Terveen.
Thank you so much, Vignesh. 🙂
Loss is unjustifiable and unexplainable. It often leaves deep scars. But healing can’t escape time.
Totally agree. With time, you move on.
You are welcome 🙂
Parents should never outlive their children and the truth of the matter is that it’s all too easy in the depths of loss and despair to find a surrogate child in the offspring of others and to adopt a savior complex and set oneself on a course to wrap all young ones, whether they’re in need or not, in cotton wool.
They say time heals all wounds, That is such a lie.
I admire your honesty, Rhyan. Time doesn’t heal all wounds. And some have found solace in the love of others. But healing and acceptance is different for each person. And definitely there are no replacements. Only new bonds…
Thank you.
I can, but also cannot imagine. Your imagery is magnificent as always.
Thank you so much, Tamara. 🙂