Chapter 1 - Infinity
Matilda sat at the dining table, drawing what seems to be a castle surrounded by beautiful oak trees. She was lost in her thoughts causing her to completely forget about dinner or her parents watching her. Rachel leaned over to watch Matilda draw herself at the entrance of the castle, smiling about. She was a very bright child and had an interesting imagination. However, Mason was busy cutting a piece of chicken on his plate and twirling spaghetti onto his fork. He paid no mind to how Matilda expressed her imagination. He was an honest man and would tell you if something is bothering him. But Matilda was the least of his worries. Rachel took a sip of her drink, completely awed by Matilda’s use of creativity, other than her husband who was only buried in his own world. Matilda was lost in her world throughout the entire dinner, barely speaking a word, so Rachel cleared her throat, hoping to get her attention.
But she barely budged. It was as if she was cast into her world and the real world was nothing but a simple dream. Mason turned to his wife, giving her a small smile. “Rachel, you must stop worrying about Matilda. She likes to express herself through art. Nothing wrong with that.” He took a look at her plate, “Not much is eaten but I assure you that it’s best to let her do what she’s doing.” Rachel sighed. “Besides, you should be more focused on tomorrow’s appointment.” She slouched back into her seat. “Oh, yes. I remember.” Her voice trailed off. He caught on and grabbed her hand. “It’s going to be okay. I wish I could be there for you.” She glanced at her husband, raising an eyebrow in confusion. “What do you mean?” “Boss has been bugging me to go in and help with what he calls, “the biggest day for the company,” He then grabs both of their plates and heads to the kitchen as Rachel follows him. “As you’ve told me, Mason, there’s nothing to worry about so you should go in tomorrow.” She reassured him, using his own words against him.
Matilda was finished with her detailed drawing and grinned to herself. She was a distinguished person for her age and anything she does, the results are amazing. Rachel walked over to the table and smiled, “Looks amazing, honey. What is it?” Of course, she knew what it was, but she desperately wanted to make conversation. “A castle and I’m the queen!” Matilda responded happily. Rachel was worried that she was too deep in her imaginary world that she’d be heartbroken at the realization that owning a castle wasn’t real. How could she tell her daughter that owning a castle is not a dream come true and it’s just a fantasy? Matilda ran off to her room to hang her drawing on the wall while Mason helped clean the kitchen with his wife. “Rachel, sweetie. It’s okay. She’ll grow out of it.”
The remainder of the night was delightfully minuscule. After bathing Matilda and putting her to bed, Rachel made herself comfortable, ending her night with her usual nightly reading while her husband lay next to her, typing away on his laptop. Shortly after, they gave each other a peck on the lips and whispered “I love you” before falling asleep. The next morning felt just right. Matilda was busy playing with her toys while Mason did his morning routine - shower, change, coffee, and sit for a short breakfast with his girls. Rachel was doing her routine but all she thought about was the appointment she had in a few minutes. What if the doctor tells her what she doesn’t want to hear?
Matilda was taken to school just before Rachel’s appointment. She waved her goodbye and drove off, completely overrun by unsettled nerves and terrible thoughts that clouded her mind. She turned on her favorite radio station, Wine and Gossip, which started with a music intro.
I love you for infinity…
“Aw, my favorite song.” She whispered, a smile forming on her lips. She began to sing along until a gut feeling took over. Glancing around, she felt relieved that none of the drivers looked suspicious. She wanted to shake this feeling away but it only stayed. She kept her hands on the wheel as her breathing got heavier. Suddenly, the steering wheel became stiff and completely formed a mind of its own. The peddle lowered itself down, increasing the speed of the car. The speed reached 60… 70… 80… until it reached 90. She tried turning the wheel but it wouldn’t budge. She panicked, unable to stop the car and unable to jump out. The tires then turned right, causing the car to drive into a tree with dangling branches. Smoke seeped through the car as Rachel laid forward, her forehead resting on the steering wheel and her body still as a statue.
Mason was sitting at his desk, his fingers glued to the keyboard when he received an unexpected phone call. “Hi, I’d like to speak to Mr.Brown, please.”
“This is him.”He responds. Normally, he reacts professionally but a phone call asking for him specifically nearly made his heart drop.
Silence filled the room around him as his face relinquished. Someone stopped by his desk, asking him if he was okay but Mason was lost in the phone call, that he couldn’t hear anything or anyone. As he stayed on the phone, he grabbed his belongings and ran out of the door, completely ignoring his boss’ screams. Hopping into his car and speeding beyond the speed limit, he reached the hospital. In the waiting room, he greeted a young female doctor. “Hi, I need to see my wife, now.” “What’s your wife’s name?” She had asked, typing away on her keyboard. “Rachel Brown.” His voice trembled as he tapped his foot on the ground, repeatedly. “I’m sorry sir but you can’t see your wife at the moment.”
Mason felt the urge to argue with the doctor but before he could say anything, his name was called out. “It’s alright Dr.Jones. Mr.Brown is able to see his wife.” The doctor turned to Mason, urging him to follow behind. He nodded as he led him down the hall of weeping parents, friends, patients in wheelchairs, and doctors speaking with one another, filling in files.
He turned to room 7 where Rachel laid, her eyes closed and her breathing very soft and slow. She looked terrible, her skin was covered in bruises and cuts, her forehead was wrapped up and her arms laid lifelessly next to her body. “What happened?” He asked, setting his stuff down and taking small steps to his wife’s bed. “Well, the police were able to gather some witnesses. I’ll call one of the officers here.” The doctor left the room, leaving Mason distraught. The door opens again, as an older officer walks in. The look on his face was enough to tell Mason that there wasn’t any good news.
“Officer Honey.” He shakes his hand before stepping on the other side of Rachel’s bed. “From what I was able to gather from witnesses and the scene, it looked like your wife crashed her car into a tree near the highway. A detective noticed that the peddle inside the car was stuck, unable to push back up. She might have been pushing her weight on top of the peddle which caused the impact of the car crash.” Mason’s heart felt tight and ached at the news. “Is there anything else?”
“The wheels on the car were turned right, however, the steering wheel was stiff and unable to steer. That is all we have right now but we are still gathering evidence and reports.” Mason was focused on how his wife looked, pale and bruised. Officer Honey excused himself and left, as the same doctor from before, walked in. “She underwent surgery, barely making it through but we did the best we could.” He turned to fill in some paperwork that laid on top of the drawers.
Mason grabbed ahold of his wife’s cold hand which smelt like the cocoa butter lotion she loved. The heart monitor didn’t give him any hope as there were small beeps every five seconds. He began talking to her, completely forgotten about the doctor in the room. “It’s not your time to go and it’s not time for you to leave Matilda. Don’t leave me.” His voice cracked. He knew it sounded selfish of him to not accept the idea of her leaving but he didn’t care. She was a part of him, the reason he’s the man he is now. With the soft beeps from the heart monitor, the low footsteps outside the door, and his beating pulse, Mason found himself in a deep state of discomfort.
Rachel’s hands got colder, something he didn’t know was possible, and the monitor beeps got slower. Suddenly, there was a loud flat beep that lasted while Rachel’s body began to shake. Mason got the doctors to come in. “You need to leave, sir.” A doctor ordered, pushing him out of the room. He didn’t take a seat or get coffee, instead, he paced back and forth in the halls, wondering what was happening behind room 7. There was muffled shouting that lasted for three minutes and then silence. The door swung open and the doctors exited, watching Mason approach them. Sadness radiated off of this man. He was hoping that the woman he loved and adored was alive and awake. But the look on the doctor’s face only proved that his hope was a complete waste.
“I’m sorry, sir.”
