A Love, A Loss, and Peace XII

We opened our gifts that Santa brought, we ate breakfast among the scraps of wrapping paper and we made calls to our friends and family. Dan had the turkey in the oven by 2pm and Karen was over visiting with my daughter and exchanging gifts while playing with all of her new toys. I finished the last of my coffee when a loud banging from the front door startled me. A police officer came through my door before I could get to it and yelled at me to get my family in the basement...a neighbour was locked in their home firing shots off with a gun. I nearly puked, my vision went blurry and my mind...stopped, I couldn't think. I stood in front of him, blank in thoughts and movement, until Dan came around the corner and assured him we would all go downstairs.

Within seconds we were all in the basement starring at each other, hoping I would have some spectacular lie to tell my daughter but fell short of all words. Dan took her aside and told her something...I still have no idea what it was. I backed into a corner and slid down the wall while tears slid down my cheeks, Christmas and the holiday's aren't easy for everyone and I wish it wasn't too late to invite their family over. I could see the flashes of light pouring through our basement windows from the emergency vehicles while listening to my daughter giggle in the background...I'm numb.