Free Sweet Dreams by Aaron Patterson Page A

She was very good looking, and on a different day, he would have flirted with her. "Thanks" was all he said today. He headed toward a table toward the back and sat down. He looked around as his laptop booted up; he noticed that the place had only a few people in it. One guy with a woven cap on was reading a book, and a couple of ladies were laughing and talking in hushed tones.
    Dialing Mooch, he waited for an answer. The voice of a twenty-year-old kid sounded on the other end, and Kirk jumped in not waiting for Mooch to answer.
    "Mooch, bring up the Transportation Department!"
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    THE NEXT DAY, MARK was released from the hospital with conditions. The Doctor told him that he had to take it easy for about a month, so his ribs could heal properly. He had three broken ribs, lacerations over most of his back and his hands were swollen and bruised. However, considering what he went through the doctor said he was lucky to be alive. He didn't feel that lucky, people who are lucky don't watch their family die and lose everything in one day.
    Mark took a cab home even though Bill and Holly offered to drive him, but he didn't want to walk through the front door with them with him. He did not know what he would do or how he would feel going home to an empty house. The house still had K's sent in the air like a angelic presence and Mark closed his eyes and said more to try to strengthen himself for what he must do. "You have to get through this Mark, there is no one here to hold your hand and do this with you or for you." He walked upstairs, looking at all the family photos that hung on the wall. " How could this happen ?" Just yesterday he was hugging little Sam. He could still feel her squirm with energy as she showed him her new toy puppy dog that she had named woofie.
SWEET
    DREAMS
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    K looked back at him from the bathroom with a smile. He could see her putting on makeup, and the way she looked, the way she smelled it was all gone!
    He couldn't do it. This house, this home they had made together was not a home anymore. It was just another house on a street where other families lived, played, and loved each other. A wave of emotion racked his body, he fell to the floor of their bedroom, and he wept bitterly. What was he going to do without them? He could not live in this house with all the memories and pain of losing them. He wanted to remember them but not live surrounded with the life that he lost. He had to leave.
    Mark wiped his eyes and stood to his feet. He had to pull himself together and no matter how much he cried or how much he missed them, nothing he did would bring them back. The phone rang startling Mark, it was Hank. He was close to the family, and as he talked to Mark on the phone, he tried to somehow let Mark know that he was there for him.
    "Mark, take some time off. We've got it covered here, and if there is anything I can do for you let me know."
    Mark's voice was low and quiet, which was not like him at all. He agreed that he needed some time to himself.
    "Thanks, Hank. The funeral is set for Tuesday morning,"
    Just the thought of it tortured him, but he knew it was something he had to do. "I think after that, I'm just going to get out of town for a bit..." His voice drifted off as he thought.
    "Anyway, I'll keep you updated."
    "Okay, buddy. Call me if you need anything. I mean it."
    Hank's voice was sincere. He said good-bye, and then Mark hung up the phone. He looked around their bedroom and let out a sigh. He knew that he could not stay here and he couldn't think of anywhere else to go. Maybe I should get something closer to work, the only reason he lived outside the city was for Sam and now that... He shook his head and went over to the nightstand beside their bed.
    Mark took a picture frame from off the nightstand and looked at it for a long time; it showed Mark and K standing in front of the house right after Sam was born. K was smiling with that beautiful smile as she