THE SANDWICH

“Mommy! Mommy! Let’s go to another ride.” She screamed pulling me back from my deep thoughts, dragging me with her.

“Oh! Okay.”

“What’s the matter honey...? You really seem lost.” rick asked taking sweetie in his arms.

“Nothing. I told you. Everything is fine.” I said with a smile looking into his eyes.

“Shall we go to that one...?”He said to the little girl who was looking at different rides in the park.

“yes daddy.” And she clapped with excitement. And we all shuffled to that cup-plate neck breaking ride.

After about 4 hours...

“Are not you tired girl...?” I asked her wiping sweat beads off her face.

“no.” She giggled.

“Oh. What are you made of huh...?” I tickled her.

“I’m made of you.” And was the sweetest answer to that question.

“Okay only 2 rides more then we will be going for shopping. Okay...?” I told her.

“Only 2 rides. This is not fair mommy.” She said with a long face.

“Aww. Okay. How about 3...?” and her face lit with excitement.

And after another hour we moved to the big shopping complex. It was a huge building with different shops and showrooms, with glittery display of different things. Clothes, food, bags, foot wares and other accessories. It has everything at one place. Modern world. Technology and human power has changed everything.

Then we entered a shop with a huge display of clothes. I moved to ladies section to check on something to try. I was lost in my own thoughts as I was looking for something to try until I saw her.

I was frozen. The whole world seems to stop for some moments. My heart was pounding like it will burst if it continues like this. I felt myself going cold in fear.

“ma’am..? ma’am...?” a storekeeper asked me breaking my frozen state.

“Y-yes...!” I replied without moving my eyes.

“Are you looking for something specific...” she said with a smile on her face. I was still lost in “her”. Looking at her with squint eyes I said a hurried no to the store keeper and rushed to sweetie and her dad.

They both were standing in front of a bright blue dress. “Look mommy. We think that you will like it...”

“I’m not feeling well. Let’s go home.” And I took sweetie in my arms; grabbed Rick’s arm and drags them out of the shopping complex.

“What’s the matter...?” rick asked taking sweetie in his arms again.

“I’m not feeling well. I told you. Now let’s go home...!” I yelled at him with anger. He was surprised by this. He kept quiet and we all move toward the parking area. He put sweetie down and started the car.

My little girl, who was surprised by my anger, flung on her seat without saying anything. Her face was confused what was going on. Why mommy was yelling at her daddy. I settle into my seat and fasten the seat belt and we start our way back home. The whole ride was silent. Nobody said a word and sweetie fell asleep at her place behind in passenger seat.

After parking the car in garage, rick closed the door of garage.

“I will take her...you go and open up.” He said as if nothing has happened.

“o-okay.” And I move toward the main entrance. I opened and moved to the kitchen and gulped a full glass of water without taking a breath. Sweat beads were still there on my forehead...my hands were still trembling...my legs were giving up on taking more weight. I mind was still not able to accept what I saw there in the shopping complex. How could it be possible...?

“Julia. You okay...?” and he make his way out of princess room toward kitchen. He moved close to me wiping the sweat off my forehead. He took the glass off my hands and put it on the counter. Then, holding my hand in his, he asked again “what is it...? Tell me we can solve it.” And he put hair strands behind my ear. I put my hands on his chest look into his eyes. They were so deep and calming. They seem to hold a whole ocean in them but still waves were silent. Like they were waiting for a reason to gain the height.

“Nothing. It’s nothing.” I smiled at him. “I just need to rest. I want to sleep.” I added.

“We can go to see a doctor if you want...?” he said creasing my cheek.

“No. No. I just need to rest. And I will be fine.”

“Okay then.” He said putting his arms around my waist. And lead me to the bedroom.

“Princess...?” I ask him.

“She is still sleeping. Maybe she had too much fun today.” He said putting off his shirt. I went to bathroom, get changed and flung myself into the bed. My head was blasting with pain. Rick was saying something...I don’t know what...I couldn’t make it and fall to sleep.

“And she holds my arm saying daddy...I’m feeling like...oh...!” she was already sleeping when I turned toward her. I smiled to myself looking at her. She looks so peaceful when she sleeps. I cover her with sheet and moved out of bedroom toward living room. “She doesn’t scream like this without anything. There is definitely something that is bothering her.” I thought to myself. I put on the TV to distract myself from all these ideas and help myself with coffee.

And after about 2 hours it was 6 o’clock. Sun has started to go down. Sky was getting pink with dawn. Birds were flying back to their homes. I could hear the barking sound of our neighbor's dog. It was his walk time. I put the TV off and made my way to the bedroom. Julia was still sleeping, peacefully. Then I made my way toward the room of my princess. She was also sleeping but as I tried to shut her door she woke up... “Daddy! I’m hungry!” she said with a sleepy voice. I moved toward her and took her in my arms.

We both leave her room and landed in the kitchen.

“Where is mommy...?”

“She is sleeping. What do you want to eat...?”I asked her making her sit on the counter.

“I want a sandwich daddy.” she said making a pout.

“Okay. So here I’m going to make a sandwich my princess.” I said tickling her. And she giggled trying to block me. I made her a sandwich and handed her. She took the plate and moved to living room and put on the TV.

“What is this...? I asked her sitting next to him.

“It’s Tom and Jerry daddy. A cartoon show.” She said eating her sandwich. I patted her head and stand up to open the window. I moved out to the lawn and water the plants. Julia likes greenery so she had brought some pots. She loves those plants as much as she loves her little darling. After finishing my plant service I moved back inside. She was still on TV. I moved toward kitchen to prepare dinner.

And suddenly she was there “I’m back to take what is mine.”