Sunshine Valley

 Tears

    Sheriff Dillon Pace climbed into his SUV. He hated to leave her alone. “God,” he prayed, “protect her.” It had been 30 years since he’d said any kind of prayer.

    She was here. She was back in Sunshine Valley. He didn’t remember the drive to his house. All he could think about was her. None of those feelings went away. They were pulsing under his skin. For 30 years, they had been building, boiling under the surface. He had convinced himself that she didn’t share his feelings. But his head couldn’t persuade his heart.

    When he had made sure he was alone, he knelt beside his bed: “God, forgive me. I’m so sorry she was beaten.” The tears began to flow. “But I’m so thrilled she’s home.”

    Thirty years of loneliness, sadness, bitterness, and turmoil flooded his heart. These were soul cleansing tears that flowed freely down his face. He didn’t even try to fight them. With each tear that fell, it felt like a brick was falling from a wall. A high wall, creating a cloud of dust as they fell. A lump caught in his throat but he couldn’t stop. When he was finally able to compose himself, he was exhausted and tearless. Why was it so hard to be around her? He was so happy that she was home. Part of him wished her home was with him.

   He stumbled to the porch. Through the moonlight he saw Teka playing. Teka. How was he going to tell her about Teka? A million thoughts filled his head about her. About them. As if there was or had ever been a them.

Sunshine Valley