Remnants — Episode 9

On the living room sofa, Sara and her mother turned the pages in one of Sara’s favorite books.

Demolition Danny was filled with vivid images of wannabe superhero Danny in colorful caped costumes. Everywhere he flew, he left behind a bizarre mess of broken dishes, busted lamps, and blasted garbage bags. Danny’s tired mother followed closely behind, dutifully cleaning up the aftermath of his careless capers.

Even five-year-old Sara thought the moral of the story was much too obvious: For Her Sake, Give Mom A Break. Still, the flying garbage was so funny.

Sara was being home-schooled. She’d been diagnosed with an awful disease she still couldn’t pronounce. “One year, two maybe,” she’d heard the doctor tell Mommy.

They looked up at the sound of the key in the front door.

Daddy had been working late again. He did that a lot lately. Sara recognized her mother’s dubious expression whenever he called to tell her that. It was the same look she had when Sara said she felt fine, when both knew she didn’t feel fine at all.

Her mother made no move to rise to greet him. Her face resembled that of Danny’s tired mom.

Coat and tie draped over one arm, Sara’s father stumbled into the living room, leaving the front door wide open. Sara looked uneasily at the dark space. You…