Bicycle

The police had brought the ruined bicycle to the house.  They did not know what else to do with it.  Once their field investigation was complete, they had no use for it and brought it to us.  It was a bent and twisted reminder of what had happened.  The wheels were warped, the frame bent, and her blood had dried on the seat and handlebars.

It had happened in a flash as she and I were out riding.

There was a blaze of red as the pickup blew through the stop sign.  I had not seen it coming; there was nothing I could have done, no matter how much I wished otherwise.

I remember it only in fragments.  The screech, the sickening thud, and then the horror began.  I threw down my own bike and ran to her.  She had only been paces ahead of me on the street.  It was the end of summer in Rehoboth, the air thick and humid, the days lazy and hot.  There were few people in town.  The ambulance came as I cradled her in my arms.  The ride had been her idea.  She had begged me, "Daddy let's go for a ride!"  Big, gorgeous blue eyes flashed up at me.  I said ‘OK' and insisted she wear a helmet to be safe.  I had no inkling how useless helmets are in the final analysis.

She was six when she died under the front of the truck.

I still miss her forty years later.  My wife and I were late in having children, and we had expected to be old parents when we took her to camp, junior high, and college.  We would be old when she got her first post-college job, we would be old when she published her fiction, we would be old when she married and gave us grandkids. None of that was to happen.

I had not been able to save her when the truck ran the stop sign and crushed my soul in a second.

The years that followed dragged on endlessly; heavy with sadness.  I hadn't the courage to kill myself throughout the four, oppressive decades after she died.  I also hadn't the courage to ‘go on bravely,' as many parents in the situation manage to do.  The accident had hollowed out my insides; I merely existed and awaited my turn to go.

The years dragged, but I always kept the bicycle.

Keyword: Bicycle

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Comments (14)

Posted by lemon 2008-07-19 15:25:51 .... This was really sad! You did grea describing his pain after 'his soul' died. Wonderfully written. + Report this comment
Posted by fewix 2008-07-19 15:30:09 Nice I'd be crying if I wasn't pumping cheery music down my ears. It reads so true to life and is a situation very real and very interesting. I hope this isn't a real story for the sake of those who read this... + Report this comment
Posted by Mokusa 2008-07-19 15:52:40 .... This was a super sad story! It reads pretty well I think and held my attention because it is direct and to the point. This is a great little story you have here, keep it up. + Report this comment
Posted by philneale1952 2008-07-19 16:30:13 Wow If this isn't true, them you're a bloody good writer. I shall choose to believe that you're a bloody good writer. Anything else in unthinkable. Bloody good piece. Phil + Report this comment
Posted by tpduden 2008-07-19 16:37:39 resolution to those that ask and care... my own little girl is nearly five. she reminds me daily why G-d put me here and i am thankful she is alive. Yet, every day i ache knowing my soul could die in a second if anything happened to her. Funny how love is, eh? + Report this comment
Posted by Zombie Punk 2008-07-20 00:51:55 .... Great story, man. Truley a beautiful piece of literature. You are a great writer with tons of talent. Keep on writing! + Report this comment
Posted by Squall1 2008-07-20 12:27:30 Simple This story reminded me that simple is sometimes a good thing. Did he have a loving wife? I wish there was one sentence that dealt with her a little more. It was definitely morbid and effective. Good job. + Report this comment
Posted by r.e.potter 2008-07-20 13:48:02 .... This piece was really good for a few reasons. first, I assumed it was a tragic true story from the way you wrote it...you had me believing. Second, you capture the anguish that a loving parent must go through when a child(especially one so young, is killed in front of you. I have a 15 year old now, and I for one would want to die also if this was to happen. But I too probally wouldn't have courage to kill myself. I would have to wait and pray mercifully that I would truly one day see her again. I think thats what keeps people from going mad with grief, the hope. Good job, and know Im off to hug my child whetehr she wants it or not...kids. + Report this comment
Posted by JJtyler 2008-07-20 22:22:53 Very natural This story felt very natural and just well done. As to your comment above, it's tough being a parent, huh? We got a 7 month old and it's hard when you realize just how stress free your life was before: solely based on the fact that you didn't have anyone to worry about. If you brought all this introspection out of everyone, you did a dang good job. + Report this comment
Posted by Something Indecent 2008-07-21 08:37:26 .... Agreed. Very touching and well written. I do wish that you added a sentence about the wife at the end for closure on the story. Other than that I thought it was perfectly executed. + Report this comment
Posted by MeredithsMontage 2008-07-21 08:56:37 .... Very sad, sad story. I truly hope this was not taken from personal events story. A very smooth reading, tragedy.(If there can be one) + Report this comment
Posted by Captain Morgen 2008-07-21 10:51:51 well done That story was very short, and sad. At the beginning, I must admit I thought it was going to be extremely cheezy. When I found out that it was his daughter that died and not his girlfriend I liked it better. I don't have children myself (as I am quite young!) but I can understand how terrible it would be for a parent to lose their child. Good job. + Report this comment
Posted by Gryffin 2008-07-22 09:43:34 .... Really well written, and you put alot of emotion into the story. + Report this comment
Posted by aeden4416 2008-08-10 22:35:40 heart wrenching Very emotional. it made me tear up a little bit. this is one of my favorites out of what i have read. i love raw emotion and this is a perfect example. keep up the amazing work! + Report this comment

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