A Day in a Life

Chapter Six

Elijah

W HEN I LEAVE Clara’s house, I walk over to view the river just across the street.

The embankment is a bit steep, but not too much for my leg if I move very slowly and lean on my cane heavily.

It ends up taking me a whopping fifteen minutes to get down to the river’s edge. I’m not taking any chance of further injury to my leg. Bedrest might as well be a death sentence.

I grab a seat on a dirt mound covered with grass while staring at the rushing water. When I was a kid, I would’ve hopped on a raft and maneuvered my way down the river too. It would’ve been a great adventure. I suppose I would’ve dared to swim too, since the water’s not too deep and I could stand in it.

When I was nine, I went camping with my best friend’s family. I don’t even remember where we went. Somewhere around Yosemite, I think. Not far from our campsite was a wide rushing river. My friend and I were positive it led to a monstrous waterfall just beyond the horizon. We’d take turns, one on a raft while the other one walked thirty or so feet downriver. We’d get on the raft and let ourselves float down the river, staying close to the riverbank. Whoever was waiting downriver would grab the raft so we wouldn’t go any further and meet our untimely deaths by plunging down the waterfall. We thought we were on a grand quest, daring to risk the huge river.

After half a day of our escapades, a couple of kids on innertubes went floating by. We watched open-mouthed as they disappeared from sight, feeling beyond stupid. Especially when we didn’t hear screams of fear as they were thrown down a ferocious waterfall.

Then my friend risked taking the raft out to the middle of the river. He panicked as he began to pick up speed and called out to me for help. I jumped in to save him without thinking, then realized I could walk in the river. The current wasn’t strong enough to take hold of me. I walked over to the raft and pulled him to the shore.

We had a good laugh at ourselves after that.

I wonder if this river is similar. It’s a fairly fast current, but if you can walk in it, you can probably keep your footing.

Unless you’re weak from losing a baby. A game changer, for sure.

As an adult, I wouldn’t risk entering this river. Even if I didn’t have a bum leg. I mean, we’re not talking about rushing river rapids dotted with huge boulders. But we are talking about a river with a healthy current. You do need to be a strong swimmer to survive it.

Actually, I’m surprised Sydni’s parents allowed her to play in this river. Heck, I’m surprised my friend’s parents let us play in the water unsupervised while we were camping as well.

Maybe I’m just jaded. I’ve seen too much of the dark side of life. I know what can happen. The knowledge has the power to make me scared of life if I allow it to.

I don’t let it. Otherwise, I’d lock myself in my house and never leave.

My mind recaps what I’ve learned today.

Everyone so far leans toward suicide.

Cole was cheating on Sydni. He purposely arranged for Sydni to walk in on him and Aurora Grace, the cackling wannabe movie star.

Cole didn’t want the baby.

Cole didn’t want Sydni.

Cole was conspiring with Susie/Suzette/Aurora to keep anyone from finding out what Sydni actually saw that day.

Sydni reached out to her mother. Her mother didn’t realize the gravity of the situation and didn’t take her seriously.

Clara obviously favors Hannah. If I know it after fifteen minutes, no doubt Sydni knew it after a lifetime of enduring it.

Sydni was a strong swimmer.

Sydni grew up swimming in this fast-moving river. But she was weak on the day of the accident, having just lost a baby. There’s a huge possibility she was seriously injured from the crash into the river as well.

She should’ve been in bed, being waited on by her supposedly loving family.

There’s more to this story. I’m sure of it.

My eyes catch a glimpse of color. I slowly make my way over to the bridge that allows motorists to cross the river at this location. One of the large pieces of wood holding up the bridge has been painted with trees, flowers, a sun, a house, and one person. A young girl. The picture is faded but still visible. There’s nothing stick figure about the painting. It’s a beautiful scene. At the bottom, it’s signed. SYDNI. Some of her early work. If Greer knew about it, he’d sell it at an escalated price .

This must’ve been her happy place, her escape from life.

I wanted to live Sydni’s last day with her, to understand her. I’m getting my wish.

I head up the embankment, careful not to slip. I hate feeling handicapped. I used to run five miles a day. Now I spend every morning in the gym just to keep my muscles strong enough so I can walk. I have to face an embankment with caution. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

I make it to my car without any trouble. It’s time for my next appointment. This one’s with Sydni’s father.