by Anna Oney
They stared at him as though they were concerned.
"You okay, Dad?" Darby asked, unaware of her grandmother's arm draped over her shoulder.
"Honey," Willa whispered from beside him. "Say something."
He couldn't; he couldn't say anything. But it was clear his mother had something to say. Her lips didn't move, but in his head Samuel heard her voice, "You have no reason to doubt. These children worship you. How can I not be proud?" As she disappeared, Samuel was overrun by a wave of emotions that he'd held back for years.
"Oh, you must miss her a lot!" Emma cried, clasping a trembling hand over her mouth.
With three words, he seemed to break her heart: "All the time."
"Daddy!" his children gasped, embracing him.
"Do you want us to read for you?" Pete asked, resting his hand upon his father's shoulder.
"No, no," he said. "I'm okay. I'm okay."
"You sure?" Willa asked, massaging his shoulders. "We can do this another time."
Samuel waved off their concern, and pulled himself together.
"Where were we? Oh, we never began."
Samuel opened the notebook to the first page, and donned a serious tone.
"It began with three rings of a bell . . . "
About the Author
Anna Oney has dreamed of being a writer since she was in the seventh grade. Authors like J.K. Rowling and Stephen King inspired her to push through self-doubt and keep trying.
Oney lives in Texas with her two dogs and farm animals. She pulls inspiration from the natural world around her as well as through her fascination with the Native-American culture.
The Leftovers of a Life is her first novel.
