It’s a Gift and a Curse

I categorized this blog post under “Inspired By” because I wrote it as a piece of fan fic·tion (noun): fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from, a particular TV series, movie, etc.

Until that day, fear had been an idea, a concept. Now it was real: a feeling I would carry inside me for the rest of my life. The day began innocently enough, with the buzzing of my alarm clock. Sharona, my nurse, should be on her way over soon. She does my grocery shopping, but I do the cleaning and laundry. I’m very particular about how it should be done. I spend quite a bit of time at home. It’s comfortable, familiar, safe. The outside is.. well, it’s a jungle out there.

I hope Sharona remembered the wipes. We’re scheduled to report to a crime scene this afternoon. I’m a Consultant on cases that the San Francisco Police Department needs help solving. I used to be on the force, as a Detective. I was the best there was. Maybe ever. I hope to be re-instated. A steady income would be nice to have again, but I’d still have to pay Sharona. I wonder if she’d get her own badge? I’ll ask the Captain.

Today is bittersweet. My wife, Trudy, she died five years ago. I visit her grave every year with a bouquet of her favorite perennial flowers, Viola Irish Molly. With each passing year, I find myself visiting her whenever I’m lost, which is becoming more often. I still celebrate our wedding anniversary, but that’s a happy memory. I keep a photo of her in my wallet. She’s my motivation to never give up. Her death is the one case I haven’t been able to solve.. yet. Maybe because I’m too close to the victim? Is it clouding my judgment? Am I blinded by all the possibilities? I now understand why Detectives aren’t allowed to work on cases involving family members or friends. It can complicate things. I’ve been ruled out as a suspect so that’s one positive. That just leaves a slew of negatives that I have to connect.

A knock at the door snapped me back to reality and a familiar voice called out, “ADRIAN! Adrian, open the door! This frozen yogurt is melting through the bag onto your doormat!”