I didn’t think much of taking a picture of a happy family in the park. I didn’t think much of taking a picture of a happy family in the park. There was a scary message a week later: “IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO OUR FAMILY.” What had I unintentionally set off?
Another message came at the same time, and the truth broke me in ways I didn’t expect. People say that life can change in an instant, like when thunder cracks before a storm. You don’t see it coming.
You believe you are safe and that today is just another day. Then things change. The park was lit up by the soft light of the still-high sun.
The carefree laughter of the kids could be heard over the other kids’ talk. As they walked by, couples held hands like supports in a world that was shaking. I stood on the edge by myself and watched everyone live their happy lives together, just like I had done ever since Tom.
He was gone in an instant, leaving a heavy silence that I can still feel in my chest. Even though it’s been years, time doesn’t always make things better. When you’re hurt, sometimes you just learn how to limp through it.
I looked at a family sitting on a bench as I walked down the path and played with my wedding ring, which I couldn’t put down. Two kids, mom, and dad. There was a scene that looked like it came from a magazine.
As she tried to catch a butterfly, the little girl laughed and her pigtails moved around. Her brother was really focused on something, and his tongue was sticking out as he played with a toy. I couldn’t help but look.
Before fate turned my life upside down, it was the life I had dreamed of. “Excuse me, ma’am?”
When I opened my eyes, I saw that my dad was talking to me. He was tall, had kind eyes, and had a little fur on his chin.
“Yes?” I got through it by putting on what I thought was a friendly smile. “Could you please take a quick picture of us?” “My wife has spent the whole day trying to get the kids ready for this.”
I reached for the phone he held out and said, “Of course.”
I caught the mom’s eye as I set up the shot. She smiled at me and said, “Thank you.”
It was like a knife cutting through my heart to feel envy and hunger at that very moment.
The woman had no idea how lucky she was to be with her husband and two beautiful children. I tried to hide how I felt by focusing on recording their moment. “Alright, everyone say cheese!” I yelled.
I could feel how happy the family was; it almost hurt to look at them. Press. That was it—their beautiful moment was saved forever.
The mom said, “Thank you so much,” as I gave her the phone back. “It’s so rare we get a photo with all of us in it.”
I quickly agreed and was eager to get going. “No trouble.” Enjoy your day.
The wife demanded that we exchange numbers, so I reluctantly agreed. Their laughter died down as I walked away. But the picture of them being happy stayed with me, a sad memory of what might have been.
Time went by. Things went on as they always did in a quiet way. Work, home, sleep, and do it all over again.
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