No Hope
For three days, LeAnn has kept vigilance on her computer, hoping for word of her brother. She knows in her heart he’s alive, but where, and for how long? Martin told her, they had seen him get shot, but how bad is he? These questions, burn in her mind.
She remembers, she hasn’t eaten all day, and heads for the kitchen to make a snack.
“It’s good to see you out of that room.” Tricia says, when she sees her.
“I’m going to make a sandwich, want one?” LeAnn asks her mother.
“No thanks, I’m fine.”
With Bubba heavy on her mind, LeAnn makes herself a sandwich and takes it to the living room. When she enters the room, all the family is there, looking like they’re at a funeral.
“Come on people, he’s not dead, just missing.”
“LeAnn, I don’t know how you can know that.” Her father says.
“I just do, alright!” She heads back to her room, and sits down in front of her computer. The screen has gone blank. Balancing the plate with her sandwich in one hand, she touches Enter with the other. The screen takes a few moments to spring to life, displaying her e-mail. Scrolling to the top, she see’s Martin’s name. She touches on it with her mouse, hoping and dreading what he might say.
Dear LeAnn,
I hoped to be giving you good news, this close to Christmas. I don’t even know how I’m going to write this, but here goes. They sent drones over the area where he fell for the last three days searching for any sign of your brother, and have found none. They have now called the search off. I’m so very sorry.
Martin
LeAnn, turns from the computer, with tears in her eyes. She stands, then falls across her bed sobbing. She cries herself to sleep.
