The Greedy Heart

Chapter 4 - The Un fateful Night

‘DING! DONG!’

I hear the doorbell ring; I look down at my clock and it’s 9:00 pm. Frankie and I had just popped some popcorn and was about to settle down on the couch to binge out on a couple of ‘Harry Potter’ series.

I look at Frankie and say, “What the hell? Who would that be?” I wasn’t expecting anyone, and our parents hadn’t called us or anything, so just to be safe, I tell Frankie to be quiet and make sure that the side firearm, in the drawer by the door was armed and the safety was switched off. I open the door, and two uniformed police officers are standing there.

“Jessica Park?” One of the officers ask me. I look up at them as dread fills my heart. All I wanted to do was slam the door shut in their face and not hear what they were about to say.

I nod my head and respond with a “Yes.”

“May we come in? We have something important to tell you and have some questions?” The other officer asks me.

I nod and open the door wider for the officers and let them in. Closing the door after them, I lead them to the living room where Frankie was waiting with the popcorn in his lap. He looks at me with wide eyes and I walk over to him telling him, “Frankie, can you go to your room for a bit? The officers are here to talk to me about a few things.” He nods, puts the popcorn on the coffee table and runs to his room closing the door behind him.

I turn to the officers and motion for them to take a seat and I sit opposite of them in one of the chairs by the sofa.

“Well, there’s no easy way to say this ma’am, but your parents were in a terrible accident this evening.” The officer with brown eyes says wearily.

Trying my best not to panic and cry out, I wring my hands together and ask, “Are they okay? Please tell me their okay?!” I demand frantically from them, not able to hold my emotions in.

The tall one with kind eyes, walks over to me and puts his arm over me comfortingly, “I’m sorry Jessica, they didn’t make it. The paramedics arrived as soon as they could, but they were announced DOA.”

I look at him with watery eyes, “DOA?”

“Dead on arrival.” He says bluntly, looking down and rubbing his hands up and down my arms trying his best to comfort me as my body begins to shake uncontrollably.

“NO!!! This can’t be! It’s Christmas Eve! What the hell happened? My dad is a cautious driver, he is always the safe one! They were supposed to go to a Christmas party! We were all supposed to go!” I scream out, pain and agony wrecking my heart as sobs begin to escape my body. This can’t be happening! Mom! Dad!

I hear a door open, and Frankie runs out to me and hugs me asking me what’s wrong. He must’ve heard me scream. God! I only cry harder! My poor brother! Oh my god! What am I supposed to tell him?! This can’t be happening! I cradle Frankie in my arms, and he holds on tight, knowing that something bad had happened and he’s doing his best to comfort me.

I finally calm down enough to look up at the officer, “What happened? Did anyone else get hurt? Was it a drunk driver? What caused the accident?”

“I’m sorry ma’am, we don’t know any of the details, as upon arrival your parents’ car caught on fire and we were only able to identify them due to their personal belongings and the registration on the car. We have a detective that has been assigned to the case that is investigating the accident.” The brown eyed officer said, looking at his partner not saying more.

They both get up and the kind eyed one hands me a card. It was a plain white card with a detective’s information on it. “We understand with the holidays that this will be a really tough time for you and your family. We are sorry for your loss. If you need anything, anything at all, I wrote my number on the back of it and you can reach out. My wife and I can help you and your brother with anything. This card is the detective that will oversee your parents’ accident.”

I nod to them and sit Frankie on the couch, with a reassuring hug I left him there and walk the officers to the front door and see them out. Locking the door after them, I turn back to the living room where Frankie was staring off in space blankly.

I kneel in front of him, and he looks at me with watery eyes, “Jessie, is mom and dad dead?”

I nod to him and hold him in my arms with tears falling down my face, “Yes, Frankie. Mom and dad are gone. It’s just you and me now.” I don’t know how long we held each other like that, we just cried and cried until there were no more tears left.

The next morning, I woke up to Frankie in my arms and we had curled up on the couch. It was Christmas morning. I stare up at the ceiling holding Frankie closer to me, needing his comfort. My poor brother, what am I supposed to do? I slowly get up and walk towards the kitchen and set the Keurig for my cup of coffee. I look around the kitchen and see my parents' coffee mugs hanging over the counter. My eyes tear up and my heart just breaks, I let out a sob and my tears just fall. I lean over the counter to brace myself from the pain, it really was unbearable. They were gone, they were both gone! I slide down the counter and my ass hit the cold tile floor, leaning my head back on the cabinet at my back I just let my tears flow. For gods’ sakes, its Christmas!

I hear the low beep of my coffee and wipe my face clear of tears. I hear Frankie stir from the living room and he cries out my name frantically, “Jessie?!” I stagger up from the floor, run over to his side, and grab him into my arms,

“Hey, I’m right here buddy. Shhhh!” I rock him in my arms as he cries some more calling out for mom and dad. After a while, he knocks out again and I lay him back down and cover him with a nearby throw. I must be strong and move forward! I tell myself. I look down at my watch and it’s 9:00 am. I look over in the corner at our Christmas tree feel my resolve falter, what am I supposed to do? I look down at the gifts, that our parents had wrapped for Frankie and me. Should we even open them? So many emotions right now, maybe I’ll ask Frankie later and see what he thinks.

I let out a heavy sigh and head back to the kitchen to get my coffee and get some food ready for Frankie and I. Trying to have some normalcy, was not easy after just losing the people you love.