Thank you to Stephanie of BeKindRewrite for her prompts. Again, they were all so good. I chose Children’s Prayers with a slight adaptation. This story deals with something many children have had to face. It is true to life and needs to be told for all those young children who deal with things we adults sometimes forget.
A CHILD’S PRAYER
The sobs were coming from a bedroom down the hall, heart wrenching sobs, then gasps for air, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow.
Gina lifted her head from the pillow, and, listening intently, she turned slowly. She pulled herself up and swung her feet around to the edge of the bed. This was something she never expected to hear.
Swallowing hard, she thought of the many reasons a mother can never get used to the sounds of heartbreak coming from the heart of her child, especially a five-year old, so innocent and loveable. Her eyes glanced down and saw the brown teddy bear laying next to her feet. She bent, picked it up and hugged it to her chest.
As Gina entered Evan’s bedroom he looked over at her, tears brimming, spilling from his blue eyes and rolling down his cheeks. He pulled the covers over his head.
“Evan, sweetie, can I sit down on your bed next to you?”
“O.K.”
“Can you tell me why you are crying, why you feel so badly now.”
“No.”
Slowly, a blond head with tousled hair peeked up from under the blankets.
“Is it because Daddy isn’t living here any more?”
Her sweet boy’s head disappeared again and the howls of his heart breaking into a million pieces were almost more than she could stand. She lifted his blanket just a bit and put his teddy bear next to his arm and then lifted his arm over his stuffed friend to hug tight. She listened to more of his sobs and his gasping while he tried to catch his breath.
“You know, Evan, Daddy loves you very, very much. He has always told me how special you are to him. What is the special name he calls you?”.
Evan lifted the blanket and pulled himself up still hugging his little friend.
”His buddy”.
“That’s right. And, I know for a fact, he doesn’t call anyone else his buddy. That shows how important you are to him and you will always be his buddy, too”.
“But, Mommy, why did Daddy leave me?”
“Remember the other day when you and I went to the beach. I told you that Daddy is always going to be a part of your life. You will always be able to visit with him and he will come here to visit you. Daddy will always love you. He hasn’t stopped loving you. He never will.
“But he isn’t here anymore. He left me.”
“Sometimes grown-ups make decisions that are very hard for children to understand. Remember, sweetie, even though he isn’t here anymore you will still see him often. You can call him anytime and when you start kindergarten soon Daddy will be there, too. He can go to your school just like I can. He will never stop seeing you. Never ever stop.”
“Mommy, can I say a prayer for my Daddy?”
“Of course. Let me hold you and Teddy tight.”
“Dear God – Please help my Daddy to come back home. I like it when he tickles me awake and when he cooks I sit on the counter and watch him. I miss him, God. Please, please bring my Daddy back home to me. Amen
As Gina struggled to hold back her tears, she kissed his tear-stained cheek and give him a huge, tight hug.
“Let me tuck you in with Teddy Bear. You know when you feel very sad you can hold him close and kiss him. And when you cry for Daddy, it is ok. Everyone gets sad sometime. There is nothing wrong with that. The important thing to remember is both Daddy and I are your family and we will always love you THIS MUCH, both of us. I will turn off the light now and when you wake up tomorrow morning you can call Daddy to say hi, o.k?”
“I love you Mommy. I feel better. But I still want Daddy to come home again.”
Gina sat on the edge of Evan’s bed caressing his cheeks, those plump cheeks she loved to kiss, and waited until he fell asleep. She watched as his breathing became slow and regular. Then she made her way back to her bedroom, alone.
She shut the door quietly, threw herself on the bed and wept uncontrollably.
It makes me mad that they can’t just work it out! Sometimes I think kids understand things better than we do.
This was a great look at a mother’s pain, and the sort of double life she leaves to cover it up.
Thanks, Stephanie. I, too, wish things could be worked out between couples. Children have no say, but the aftermath for them is devastating.
This story was a ‘downer’ but your prompt took over. I couldn’t even come up with a positive ending, at least for that point in time.
[…] Char […]
this really hurts.
Intense subject matter.
Thanks, Evelyn. Yes, it is intense and so many of those little faces we see everywhere are dealing with just this issue. So much loss for them!
Such a heart-wrenching story, Char. It happens all too often.
You are right. It happens all the time. And their world is never the same again.
Thanks, Patti.
very touching. every word and every line.
Thank you.
I wish this was something that chldren didn’t have to go through. And, whichever parent is left holding their hurt has much work cut out for them. As much as they love their “missing” parent, it is never ever the same again.
Heartbreaking, for sure, but what do you do? Well done, Char.
I guess it is a ‘pick up the pieces of their heart and put them back together the best you can’ kind of situation. Lots of love and reassurance help, too.
Thanks for reading, Sandy!
Oh, I ache for both mother and son. Beautifully written with such compassion for everyone involved.
Thanks, Marita. I hesitated with this story because it is so negative. But it is so realistic. I decided to go for it.
Separation and divorce are hard on kiddos. Sometimes it is necessary, though. I understand that. So often, it is not.
a child’s innocent words are always beautiful.. thanx for sharing this.. 🙂
Children are so innocent, aren’t they Abi. Then the world gets hold of them and tears their little hearts apart. Glad for your visit here. I enjoy your blog, too!
I’d probably stay married to the Jerk of the World rather than put my child through this at such a young age. Luckily I found a good one.
Rough stuff. Not fair to children. In this light, it almost looks criminal. I understand divorce is a necessary reality but gosh… what a cost.
I’m going to hug my husband and my kids BIG when I get home. Thanks for the reminder.
I think staying married would be the best option, more often than not. There are sometimes extenuating circumstances that don’t allow for that. What I think is so sad for the kiddos is when one parent wants to keep the family together but has no control over the other leaving, regardless of compromise. Then the hurt and tears begin for those innocent little hearts!
I think that big hug for your family is a great idea! 🙂