The Scrapbook

Mary sat at her kitchenette table one morning. Watching the sun rise and drinking her normal cup of coffee. In front of her on the table, a scrapbook that the kids had put together. Unopened, Mary could not bring herself to look. The memories that it held were something that she did not think she was ready to revisit. There were good memories, but there were also memories of her beloved husband that had recently died.

The kids had put together the scrapbook for the two of them for their 56th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, Frank would not live to see that day, or enjoy the scrapbook. Mary had left the scrapbook on the table thinking one day she would open it. After all, the kids put a lot of work into it and she

knew she would enjoy it. But at the same time, it would bring up a lot of memories. Memories that she did not think she was ready for.

Frank died about a month ago. Fortunately, it was not sudden. Mary and the family had been awaiting that day. Frank had been dealing with lung cancer for several months and his prognosis was not good. So, when the day finally came, Mary was thankful that Frank no longer had to suffer, and he could finally be at peace. But when the day comes, you still are not quite ready. It still hurts. It still feels as if a piece of yourself has left. And the pain of that feeling of missing that piece of you will linger for some time. Mary took a sip of her coffee and looked at the scrapbook. Her thoughts wandered back to the times of raising the kids and she could only imagine what was in the book. Frank loved the kids and he was proud of them and everything they had accomplished for themselves. "If Frank were here, he would have opened the book in a second," she thought, "and wouldn't have put it down." Another sip of coffee and Mary decided it was time to open the scrapbook. It was time to relive whatever memories the kids had put together for them. And in some way, she felt that Frank was there to look at the book with her. Mary moved the book closer, she put her reading glasses on and opened the front cover to the first page. "To Mom and Dad, made with love. The kids." (Your turn... Finish the story.)

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