Ronald held the phone in disbelief, with a feeling somewhere in between joy and confusion. In a fog, he hangs up and stumbles over to the couch to sit down.
When he was eight years old, his father left their house one morning and never returned. After days of his mother pleading with the authorities for help, there was an existence search launched that didn’t lead to much. But back then, investigations were handled differently, and lacked the convenience of modern advances. In the years that followed, Ronald and his siblings grew to accept their new normal. They rarely spoke of it and never shared his memory with their kids or grandchildren. And in an instance, all that had been suppressed, resurfaced with a phone call.
“Mr. Parks, this is Detective Green from the Springfield Police Department Cold Case Division, and I wanted to let you know that we’ve located your father’s car.”
© LaRonda Moore
[153 wds]
I love comments and welcome feedback!
Inspired by FFfAW Challenge #106
Photo courtesy of Tim Livingston, The ForesterArtist.
There are so many unsolved cases, you described so well the trauma when such a case is reopened. Well done
LikeLike
Not sure if you were going for this, but in the end perhaps bittersweet as it might not have been a desertion but rather a simple accident. Nicely done
LikeLiked by 1 person
You got it. That is exactly what I was going for. Thanks so much for your thoughts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story! Feelings of relief coupled with renewed grief.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kay!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sad! The family thought their father had abanded them and all that time he was lost in the forest somewhere. Good thing they finally found his car to give his family some peace. Great story, LaRonda!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks Joy! I’m glad too. Gotta love a cold case.
LikeLiked by 1 person