You Made Me Cry

“I hope you are coming home as usual for Christmas,” Lucio asked as she had been lonely ever since Jonathan got his new job.

Don't worry; remember, I have always come home even though I was working away from home. For over four years now, I have not missed anything called a celebration, especially when it comes to the aspect of seeing my family. You are more important to me than any other person, Jonathan said on the phone to his wife, Lucio.

“What are you saying? What love is then left for your kids if you pour out all for me?” Lucio asked while smiling from her end. She was not ready to be selfish and wanted the love to be shared among her children and herself.

“Don't worry, I love everyone equally, especially my dearest," Jonathan stressed.

“Don't stress over this issue; I know you love your kids the most.” Lucio just wanted to tease her husband, similar to the way he was teasing her.

“Don't worry, I will be home in three days no matter what," Jonathan said.

Just like before, Lucio always prepared her husband's favorite dish while awaiting his arrival.

“Betty, come, let's go to the market to buy some foodstuffs,” Lucio called out to her daughter, Dora. The two went to the market to buy some foodstuffs. She bought what she would use to prepare her husband's favorite dish. She prepared it after confirming with her husband if he was still going to make it. Lucio wanted to surprise her husband just like before, but this time it was a different surprise. She always prepares rice, which was not Jonathan's favorite, and now she decided to make it a surprise.

“Hello," Lucio puts a call across to her husband.

“How are you, dear?” Jonathan asked in a low voice, which looked somehow suspicious.

“I'm fine, but wait a minute. Your voice is not sounding as usual. Did something happen to you?” Lucio asked with deep concern.

“No, nothing; I mean, not at all. I'm fine, Jonathan said, still sounding strange.

“Are you on your way now, or are you still preparing?” Lucio asked in anticipation.

“I will soon be on my way," Jonathan said.

They hung up the call. Lucio began to wait outside for her husband to come home, as she had finished cooking her husband's favorite.

“Dora, just make sure you clean up your dad's room properly, as you know how he would behave when he sees anything dirt on the floor,” Lucio told her daughter as they both awaited the arrival of Jonathan.

“Alright, ma, I will do just that," Dora responded.

Gustavo Henrique

When Dora was through, she came out and said to her mom, “Mum, why can't you try Daddy's phone number?”

“Oh, that's true," Lucio responded.

She tried the number, but it was not reachable. She tried it once and again and again, repeatedly, but it was still not reachable.

“Mum, maybe Dad is in a place where there is no network. Let's still wait a bit; he is going to come," Dora said to her mom, just to make her feel comfortable.

“I'm having a strange feeling," Lucio said to her daughter, Dora. “I felt something was not right," Lucio repeated as she sat by the roadside, waiting anxiously for her husband to come.

Hours of waiting turned into the next hours until the day was dark. The prepared food was just in the kitchen.

Lucio tried her husband's phone number again, but it was still not reachable. This was when she started crying bitterly. She was crying without seizing while Dora tried to console her, but she was not ready to stop. Her boy, Dan, came into the scene, although she was still 4 years old. As he sighted his mom crying, he joined while Dora was consoling the two. After some time, Dora could not hold it and instead joined in the crying. Their crying tactics were just like a crying competition.

Neighbors came around and started consoling them without knowing what was happening.

“Please, can someone tell us what the problem is?” One of the neighbors asked.

“It's nothing, ma. My dad is yet to be home, and now it's 10 p.m. Dora said.

“Madam, please, you don't need to be worried. I'm sure something must have kept him busy on the road—maybe traffic, or he did not leave on time from his workplace, one of his neighbors said.

“Thank you, ma, but it's unlike him. No calls, no text messages, not even a missed call. No, I don't believe that Lucio said while his eyes were swollen as a result of the cry.

“What's happening here?” As Lucio heard the voice of Jonathan, she could not hold it and ran so fast to hug him.

“Oh, my husband. You have put me and your children at risk. I have concluded that we will never see you again.”.

“You know that would not happen. Our vehicle was stocked with serious traffic that was of the standstill type; even a pedestrian could get to its destination. Not only that, but my cell phone had a flat battery, Jonathan said.

“Dora, Dan, Daddy is here, okay? Don't cry," Jonathan said.

“Honey, please, I need to have my bath, and, I'm seriously hungry," he continued.

“Don't worry, I have prepared your favorite dish.” Lucio was so happy to see her husband.