Jericho - Calm before the Storm
On the eve before perhaps the most important day of his life, he was calm.
Ever since the bombs went off, they had survived. Each struggle was encountered head on with no promise for what the day might hold, just with the hope and strength found in each other. He had faced the threat of death many times in the past few months, each time with his heart beating loudly in his chest as if it were trying to pound its way out of his body to protect itself from almost certain demise.
Yet here he was. He had survived all of it to put his life on the line again in the riskiest scheme Hawkins had ever devised. But he could not deny the importance of what the day might hold. What it might mean for the people of Jericho and the world.
He lay there, staring at the ceiling, hearing Emily’s steady breathing beside him. His mind was racing with the thoughts of all that was to come, and all that had already come to pass. He didn’t often allow himself to think about what ‘might have been’ if the bombs hadn’t destroyed the life he had known. But in the stillness of this quiet night, he couldn’t help but dwell on all that the horrible catastrophe had brought him.
Tonight he thought of all he had gained, as well as all he had lost. It all swirled together in his mind in colorful rings of pain and joy, turmoil and peace. Tonight he thought of his mother and her determined calm in the face of uncertainty. He thought of Eric and his steadfast presence by his side. He thought of Emily and the second chance he never thought he’d have. He thought of Bonnie and her courage to defend her home to the last. He thought of Stanley and his constant devotion to town and family. He thought of Hawkins, who was willing to risk it all to save a nation. And, he thought of his father; the pride he felt in calling him his own.
Tomorrow he would do as he had done everyday since the day the world changed. He would do everything in his power to keep Jericho safe. It was what his father would want from him. And he would give it freely, no matter the cost.
He turned his head on the pillow and let his eyes linger on Emily’s serene face. In the quiet night, he felt the stillness of resolve moving through him, though his heart cried out for these last moments of peace before the storm of tomorrow. Driven by the sudden need to touch her, he drew his hand to her face and ran his fingers lightly through her hair. For now, he basked in the flood of memories from peaceful, carefree nights so long ago. Tomorrow would come soon enough.
END
Ever since the bombs went off, they had survived. Each struggle was encountered head on with no promise for what the day might hold, just with the hope and strength found in each other. He had faced the threat of death many times in the past few months, each time with his heart beating loudly in his chest as if it were trying to pound its way out of his body to protect itself from almost certain demise.
Yet here he was. He had survived all of it to put his life on the line again in the riskiest scheme Hawkins had ever devised. But he could not deny the importance of what the day might hold. What it might mean for the people of Jericho and the world.
He lay there, staring at the ceiling, hearing Emily’s steady breathing beside him. His mind was racing with the thoughts of all that was to come, and all that had already come to pass. He didn’t often allow himself to think about what ‘might have been’ if the bombs hadn’t destroyed the life he had known. But in the stillness of this quiet night, he couldn’t help but dwell on all that the horrible catastrophe had brought him.
Tonight he thought of all he had gained, as well as all he had lost. It all swirled together in his mind in colorful rings of pain and joy, turmoil and peace. Tonight he thought of his mother and her determined calm in the face of uncertainty. He thought of Eric and his steadfast presence by his side. He thought of Emily and the second chance he never thought he’d have. He thought of Bonnie and her courage to defend her home to the last. He thought of Stanley and his constant devotion to town and family. He thought of Hawkins, who was willing to risk it all to save a nation. And, he thought of his father; the pride he felt in calling him his own.
Tomorrow he would do as he had done everyday since the day the world changed. He would do everything in his power to keep Jericho safe. It was what his father would want from him. And he would give it freely, no matter the cost.
He turned his head on the pillow and let his eyes linger on Emily’s serene face. In the quiet night, he felt the stillness of resolve moving through him, though his heart cried out for these last moments of peace before the storm of tomorrow. Driven by the sudden need to touch her, he drew his hand to her face and ran his fingers lightly through her hair. For now, he basked in the flood of memories from peaceful, carefree nights so long ago. Tomorrow would come soon enough.
END