PAVING THE TROUBLE ROAD

"It is time. Prepare."

She lay in the twilight fog between sleep and wakefulness. The voice in her head took her by surprise. She did not fear the voice, in fact, had expected to hear it one day, just not so soon. It was the timing of the message that took her breath away and the overwhelming grief had her running to the bathroom, hand over her mouth.

Her husband grew concerned and hurried behind her, caressing her back as she retched. She tried to quell his concerns, explaining that she had eaten something that didn't agree with her. But in all the years they had been together, she had always been in perfect health, had not even had morning sickness with either of her pregnancies. This was not like her and he was worried for her.

'You must see Dr. Sommers" he insisted. "Please...I'm so worried about you."

Knowing that the wheels were in motion. She smiled sadly at her husband and cupped her hand on his cheek. 'I promise to call for an appointment today."

—-

She sat in the doctor's waiting room feeling like she was awaiting her turn at a guillotine. She already knew what he would say and her pleas to The Others had gone unanswered. Her begging to know why now, when her children were still so young. Why were they calling her home so soon! She needed to be with her children! Did they not see how detrimental taking their mother away would be?!

She stifled a sob, the thought of leaving her children filled her with such grief, but she could not break down now, not here...not now.

—

The diagnosis devastated her loving husband. She knew The Others would give her some time to prepare, then take her quickly. They, afterall, did not want her to suffer—at least not physically, the emotional turmoil though, was unavoidable. The time she would be allowed to say goodbye to her husband and young sons would be devastating for all of them, but she was grateful for the time anyway.

Six weeks into her devastating diagnosis, her pensive youngest son came in, crawled onto the bed and snuggled close to her. His physical presence had always been so precious to her as he not only possessed her physical attributes, but was also most like her in his personality. She loved both her boys equally, but Johnny shared a special bond with her, one of an unbreakable bond of genetic favor.

As she held him tight, he lay quietly, his head resting on her chest. She smiled when she realized he did this often now—listening to her heartbeat, saving its steady cadence in his memory for when the time came that it was only just that—a memory.

Listening to the country station on the radio next to her bed filled the silence and as they lay there quietly, a Johnny Cash song came on as she quietly hummed the tune. She felt her young son smile as he lay still, listening to her heart beat and her chest rumble as she hummed the song. He sighed when the song ended and promptly fell asleep, a content smile on his sweet little face.

She had never considered herself vain, but as she looked upon her small son, who looked most like her, she marveled at his adorable features and she suddenly felt very sad that she would never see that adorable little boy turn into the handsome young man she knew he would be.

As the weeks passed and time took its toll, she began to have dreams. Dreams The Others gifted her with. Some were heart-breaking: she saw her family torn apart by their loss of her, each floundering in their own way and she despaired. Then, as she saw the years unfold The Others made it clear to her that this was their fate, what had to transpire for the puzzle pieces to fit into place. Those puzzle pieces specifically meant to shape her youngest son into the man he would become. A caring, but guarded selfless soul, able to stand on his own two feet and fight for what was right despite adversity. The Others showed her why they needed to take her now, so that her young son would use the lessons she had taught him of being kind and knowing right from wrong and standing up for himself was reinforced, independent from her nurturing ways to make him stronger and more determined to follow his heart despite what stood in his way.

They showed her the man that Johnny Sheppard would grow to be and she cherished what he would become though his road to the future would be fraught with pain and at times, loneliness.

They showed her that he was the key to another universe, unlocking the secrets and using his skills to defeat a near unbeatable foe.

All these insights helped her make peace with her impending departure from her loving family.

One night, not long after making her peace...fate began...and her family wept.

Fin