Free Lost Soul by Kellie McAllen Page A

and made the choice to tear himself away from his one true love in commitment to his duty.
    He remembered the joy he felt the first time Colby smiled and the happiness Colby brought to everyone around him despite his disability.   He relived the pleasure he saw in Colby’s eyes every time he watched his brothers play, never once acting sad that he couldn’t join in their antics.   Finally, he imagined the possibilities of Colby’s future if the doctors at the children’s hospital could restore any of the functions he had lost.   And in that brief moment of hope, he was able to hold himself back as Sarah and Jessica walked out the door and out of his life completely.   He collapsed in agony as he heard their van pull away and it took every ounce of strength he had to drag himself to Colby’s room for a glimpse of the only thing in the whole world that could convince him not to chase after Jessica and never leave her side.   Colby cooed and giggled as Michael approached his bed, almost as if he could see him, and Michael knew he had made the right choice.   He pushed every thought of Jessica out of his mind and concentrated on nothing but the sound of Colby’s breathing — the wet, ragged gasps that punctuated the mournful silence with the sound of a life that deserved to be protected.

chapter nine

    ”Mom!   Did you buy some Cherry Coke for the picnic?” Casey hollered from the top of the stairs, knocking over a Slinky that somersaulted down the steps, its shiny metal coils zipping apart and whisking back together melodically as it fell.
    “Yes, honey, I got everything you wanted!” Karen hollered back, busy filling the cooler with snacks and drinks.   “Did you pack everything in the van like I asked?”
    “Umm, not quite yet…,” Thirteen year old Casey mumbled and shuffled off to load the family van with lawn chairs, blankets, and Colby’s stroller.
    It was the 4th of July, 1985, and the Conrad family had big plans for the day that included a cookout with friends, a trip to the movies to see Back To The Future , and of course, fireworks after dark. Eleven year old Corey was in charge of Colby, and Michael was on high alert because Corey was a lot more interested in the Atari game Christopher and Caleb were playing than he was in watching his youngest brother.
    When the food was packed, Karen peeked into the playroom to check on the boys and saw five year old Colby propped up in a bean bag chair in the play room, his limp mouth leaking a trickle of drool on his shoulder as he and Corey watched Pac-Man avoid the ghosts and gobble up dots while making his way through the maze.   Colby still couldn’t say any real words but had recently started mimicking the beeps, bloops, and wakka wakka sound effects of the boys’ favorite game.
    Unable to talk or walk or feed himself, after months of therapy he could at least move his arms and legs more than ever before.   He couldn’t hold himself upright in a normal chair, but the beanbag in the playroom supported him enough that he could watch the action.
    Colby giggled and squealed as his brothers played, waving his arms in excitement every time they cheered.   The Cabbage Patch doll Jessica had given him lay on his lap, the yarn hair frayed and tangled and the plastic face dirty from two years of constant use.   Colby didn’t go anywhere without his Jessica, and Karen wondered whether he still remembered the friend who had given it to him or if his attachment was solely towards the doll now.   Karen used to think of her friend every time she saw the doll, but it had been several months since the two women had talked and several weeks since Karen had even given Sarah a passing thought.
    I should give her a call, Karen thought briefly, but a glance at the clock told her it would have to wait.   Last she heard, the Reynolds were thinking about moving into a bigger house in a better part of town and Karen wondered if she would even be able to reach her.