He was glued to phone awaiting her call:<\/p>\n
If she needed him to help her during post-surgery,<\/p>\n
The weather was nasty,<\/p>\n
The roads were treacherous over the hilly terrain.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
She could have called her sister living close by,<\/p>\n
But he was a sweet heart,<\/p>\n
Their relationship was a cloud in the sky \u2013<\/p>\n
Tenuous but pregnant.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Finally she chose him<\/p>\n
Even though she knew it was dangerous,<\/p>\n
Because of his adroitness at the wheel<\/p>\n
And coolness.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He tossed his parka over his shoulders,<\/p>\n
Slammed on the snow-boots,<\/p>\n
Dived into four-wheeler Jeep Cherokee,<\/p>\n
And hit the accelerator with a rabbit\u2019s sprightliness.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
From the local roads to highway<\/p>\n
Was a labyrinthine skating rink,<\/p>\n
Every turn blind,<\/p>\n
Every ten-feet a dead-end.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hitting the highway was a relief,<\/p>\n
But the increasing traffic created a new hazard,<\/p>\n
And the spiraling snow invaded the windshield –<\/p>\n
It was a journey to the unknown.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Meanwhile she cooked his favorites:<\/p>\n
Chilling Merlot and arranged kettle-cooked chips,<\/p>\n
His bed was made toasty comfy,<\/p>\n
And the lights were dimmed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After two hours progress became difficult,<\/p>\n
As snow piled up,<\/p>\n
Visibility was becoming scarce,<\/p>\n
And speed was in single-digits.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Last fifty miles in two hours,<\/p>\n
At this rate destination was another three hours,<\/p>\n
Hope dwindled,<\/p>\n
Mission looked in doubt.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Another hour and driving had to be halted,<\/p>\n
There was nowhere to go,<\/p>\n
Coming out of the car he saw a universe of snow surrounding him,<\/p>\n
He waited for the situation to take its course.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It was beyond eight hours since his departure,<\/p>\n
Cell phones went dead and forecasts<\/p>\n
Predicted an avalanche of snow in twenty-four hours,<\/p>\n
It was a moment of destiny for her.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On the following day news reports stated<\/p>\n
Seven deaths on I-95,<\/p>\n
Later bodies were identified,<\/p>\n
And he was among them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Angela still looked out of the window<\/p>\n
To hear the sound of his car entering the driveway,<\/p>\n
As reports about him could be wrong,<\/p>\n
Hours melted into days, and hopes turned into ashes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Afterward the skies cleared,<\/p>\n
Sunshine broke loose,<\/p>\n
Everything looked fine,<\/p>\n
And the world went on.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Suffern, New York, August 29, 2016<\/p>\n