The Perfect Life

My wife thinks of everything.

If perfection could behold in human and spirit form, it would be in her exact image. Andy was no runway model glamorizing every camera within 5 miles, but she's also no hippo from East Africa, nor is she a witch covered in zits and boils. She's somewhere in the middle as if sculpted just for me. Her long cocoa hair and blazing blue eyes had me instantly smile that would last all day.

Our three little girls all adopted Andy's looks and most of her personality. I could not be thankful enough for that, because I'm a stubborn bastard with a temper at the best of times. We had twins in the beginning, Nicky and Jessica. The ultrasound lied to us at every appointment or maybe it was just that Jessica is a sneaky little one as it was only supposed to be Nicky on that most beautiful day. We're not complaining, though. They're angels. Andy was able to find another crib for Jessica at the last moment; for pennies on the dollar too. How she managed to work miracles like that all the time, I'll never know. Four years later we had Taylor and if I'm not mistaken, when she grows older will be the mirror image of Andy when she was in her youth.

I work full time running a small custodial business out of an office I rent just down the street from our barely livable, 950 square foot, two bedroom apartment. Clean Hands was the name of my business. Andy came up with it and it stuck. She stayed home with the girls and taught them the wisdom of the world. God, they are so smart. Andy also did a little crafting here and there on the side to scrape up some extra income. It had come in handy a lot more than I wish we needed it.

Tonight was just another night of finishing some paperwork when I received a phone call for a last minute sick call of an employee who came down with the flu. Naturally, being short staffed and extremely low on budget, I called Andy and let her know I'd be filling that shift. It was alright with her as she's taking the girls for ice cream down by the baseball field for an after dinner dessert.

A few hours later the sun set and the street lights turned on. I looked at my phone not realizing I had no service at this particular building until I left the interior. I've always had problems with this phone too. I have to restart it every time I lose service in order to get it back. Andy said I should just buy a new phone, but money is tight with the pandemic running amok. After three agonizing minutes of waiting it finally finished booting and my phone was flooded with missed calls and texts.

I had four missed calls from a number I didn't recognize. Six calls from my mother-in-law, Cindy. A single text from her as well. Where are you?? Call us back! It's Andy and the girls. My stomach dropped and dread fed my thoughts. Adrenaline filled my body as I dialed Cindy's number with trembling fingers.

Cindy answered the phone immediately and before I could even speak a word she said "get to Greystone Hospital now! I'll explain when you get here." I tried to sputter words in but she hung up before I managed to do so. Fear gripped my heart and I raced to the hospital. I sped down streets marked 30MPH driving double that. With a little luck I came across no police and let loose a little sigh as I found a close parking spot near the main entrance.

Cindy waited for me just inside the doors. Her face was red and her eyes puffy. I could tell she was crying. I ran to her. "What's going on? Where's Andy and the girls!?" I said in near hysteria. She proceeded to tell me the events since I left on my fill-in shift. I collapsed to the floor going deaf to the rest of her words as she recited what happened bursting into tears again. Andy and the girls, Nicky, Jessica, and Taylor, were struck by a drunk driver on their way home.

Gone. Three of my four girls are gone from this world. Taylor was the only survivor. The drunk driver didn't even survive, he died on the impact. The doctor said Taylor may never be able to walk again, that is if she wakes up from her coma. A coma at four years old. She'll never be able to play with her older sisters or her mom. In years she'll possibly forget how and who they were. I won't let that happen. They were my world. Andy was everything the world had to offer. My world is gone in one night. Gone.

A few days later I'm awoken by a man in a suit. He said his name was Gerald and he was the lawyer assigned to help us out. He gave me his condolences and handed me a small black notebook. He said it was in Andy's will that it should be left to me. I took the notebook barely comprehending what he said. After he left to give me some space I opened the notebook. On the first page Andy's handwriting had a note for me. To my love, my whole world, Jason. You've never seen me write in this book as it's a surprise for you on a dark day. It's filled with memories of our life, our love. I give this to you so you may move forward knowing you'll always be with me and I with you. Our love is eternal.

As tears streamed down my face I flipped through the pages of memories from all of the years we've been together; from the first day we met, to the night before the accident. Such wonderful moments in our life. I even felt a small smile that crept onto my face. At the back of the book was an account number registered to my name. Another small departing note was left from Andy. Jason, I left this account in case certain events separated us into different lifetimes. I love you. In the account was $20,000. It was to cover funeral costs among other things. "Oh Andy.." I cried out as I laid my head on the bed Taylor now sleeps on.

My wife thinks of everything.