This week we're going to try something different. Very different. Sort this challenge feed by newest. Read the most recent post, then continue it. Posts will be constrained to 700 words, so nobody has to read a novella before writing their own entry. When evaluating, we'll read the posts in order, from oldest to newest. Feel free to depart from the previous author stylistically, thematically, or in whichever way you choose, though your entry should be somehow connected to the previous entry. If the previous post is nonsensical, or otherwise hopelessly salvageable, continue from the most recent post you can. (If you do elect to continue from a different post, it'd be helpful if you could indicate which post you're continuing from). We'll write the first sentence. "The dream came to an abrupt end when the hysterical ringing of the telephone split the midnight silence."

Now What ?

The voice on the other end of the telephone asked if I was Christine. After I confirmed that I am the person, she went on to give me the news. All my life I have known the news would come. I just did not know the exact date and time. She had a very calm voice, and yet she was concerned. She has probably had this conversation so many times that she knows it by heart.

It takes a special person to do what she does. Why would someone purposely choose to do what she does? I am glad that she was there and knew how to reach me. I was both saddened and relieved by the news. I knew things would never be the same again. I was

breathing a sigh of relief that the pain and suffering was finally over.

I had to wake up. I needed to go and see for myself and settle this in my mind. I felt numb. Why was I numb? I think it's because I didn't know how to feel. Maybe it's because that is all my mind and body could handle at that moment. Even now I am still quite numb.

Feelings can be fleeting. Sometimes I am not consciously aware of them. My subconscious is not at all shy. When I dream at night I am so aware of the feelings, good or not so good.

She visited me in a dream recently. I woke feeling very confused. She said that she almost forgot to give me something. It was a check. I started to ask what it was for but she left quickly without an answer. As far as I was concerned she did not owe me anything. Feelings of confusion with her were very familiar to me. Many times I tried to force an answer. I didn't like those confusing and hurtful feelings. Usually she avoided the questions just like she did in the dream.

Now that I am older, will the answers come more easily to me? If and when I do get answers, what will I do with them? I hope I grow from the answers.

What kind of answers will she get where she is going? Maybe it won't matter. It still matters to me. As long as I have breath in me, I think it will still matter. She was my Mother. She has left this earth.