The Promise

This is a story I wrote a while back. I hope you all enjoy it!!

Annie O'Brien took a deep breath as she slowly approached the casket. She wished she were anywhere but here. She wished it were anyone but him. How could it be him? As tears streamed down her face, she forgot about everything around her; what she was doing, her mom squeezing her hand so tight, the bouquet of daisies she clutched.

That horrible day came rushing back, the day she could never forget. It started out as a good day, a very good day. She met Dad at the breakfast table and they laughed as they read the comics together, their favorite Saturday morning ritual. Mom smiled at the scene as she dished up more waffles and strawberries.
In another hour they were dressed and ready for their family day out. Sitting in the van waiting for mom, Annie shared with Dad about her friend Sara's struggles.
"It's so hard for her, Dad. She feels so alone and helpless since her parents told her they are divorcing. What can I do to help her?"
"You can remind her that God loves her and will never forsake her. Remember Ephesians 6:10? 'Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.' And in Joshua 1:5 we are reminded that He will never leave us or forsake us. Remember that, Annie, as long as you live. God will always take care of you as long as you turn to Him. He'll never, ever leave you."
Dad winked at her as Mom hopped in the car, and they were on their way. They spent a great day visiting a local museum; later they shared a picnic lunch in the park. Then. . . then what? What happened on the way home? She remembered them singing along to a favorite CD, then the car lurching unexpectedly as her mom gasped. . . then, nothing.
The next thing she remembered was waking up in the hospital, her head pounding, her lips cracked. She was so sore she could hardly move. She panicked for a moment as scenes of the accident flashed in her mind. . . the van, swerving violently to the left. . . a gigantic semi-truck. . . going down a slope. . . her mom crying out. It was all so jumbled and none of it made sense.
Annie's eyes quickly darted around the room, then as they came to rest on the familiar figure of her mother, she could feel her pulse return to normal. Her mom turned away from the window and as their eyes made contact, she suddenly knew. She knew he was gone. Dad. . . oh, Dad! "No!" her heart cried out. "No!" She started sobbing, the violent, heart-wrenching kind that come only with the feeling of everything being wrong. It felt like Annie's world would never be good again. Mom came and gathered Annie in her arms, stroked her head and all choked up, whispered, " Shh, it's okay. We're going to be okay."
Annie felt her mom's hand stroking her head once again, and was suddenly brought back to the present. She looked into her mom's eyes once again, and felt the tears running down her cheeks. She remembered the bouquet of daisies in her hand, her dad's favorite. And she could hear his voice again, clearer than ever. "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Remember that, Annie, as long as you live. God will never, ever leave you. Be strong. . . be strong."
And in that moment, she turned her heart to the Lord, whispering a prayer for strength as she took one more step toward the casket and looked one more time down at her dad, to say goodbye.