The WORST Day of My Life!

It was just another ordinary day, the kind that lulls you into a sense of security as I immersed myself in my mundane tasks. It was a weekday afternoon, and I had just finished a meeting with a client.

The meeting was quite intense, but the climate is a bit tough out there right now. Although my takeaway is that they may have been overreacting a bit, it's my job to navigate through all that and find a solution.

So, what else can I do? Time to get to it. I send the emails I need to and review the onslaught of emails that came through while I was indisposed.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed, cutting through the monotony of reading endless emails. I reached for my phone, never taking my eyes off the message I was reading. I just need to finish this paragraph.

Finally breaking away, I unlocked the screen and stared at the notification. And instantly, a chill crept down my spine, slowly, as if I was suspended in time somehow. It was from my daughter's school.

They locked it down because of an active shooter in the area.

I looked up from my phone slightly as I felt my stomach drop. Every muscle in my body tensed up immediately, and I couldn't help but see the look on her face as she left for the bus stop earlier that day.

She was tired and barely looked up as I gave her a kiss and told her I loved her. I was annoyed at her grumpiness. Why did I judge her like that? My eyes began to tear up.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I misread it. We're in one of the best school districts in the state and one of the safest areas of town. I must be mistaken.

I go back to the message and read it again. "Your child's school has been locked down due to an active shooter in the area."

The text is correct, there was no mistake.

Fear grips me like a vice, tightening with every passing second. My heart races, pounding against my chest as I wrestle with the chilling reality of what lies ahead. The air around me grows thick, suffocating, and I can feel my breath quickening, each inhale a desperate gasp as I replay the harrowing choices that await me in the shadows of uncertainty.

I jump out of my seat swiftly and start pacing around the room. The dog, sensing something is amiss, anxiously paces alongside me from one wall to the other.

What should I do now? Should I head to the school? That won't be helpful. I likely won't even be able to reach her. Oh God, I can't imagine how she must be feeling at this moment!

Eventually, after a few minutes, I begin to think more clearly and decide that I need additional information. I quickly start searching the internet for more details. What does "in the area" imply? Is it on the school grounds? Inside the school? Is the message intentionally vague to avoid causing panic? Well, that's not very effective, is it?

I pause for a minute and begin repeated whispers to myself, "Please, please don't let the shooter be INSIDE the school. Please let her be safe!"

After a minute or two of this activity, I go back to my phone and continue sifting through the Breaking News articles to understand the situation. A ring from my computer briefly interrupts me, but I don't look up; it doesn't interest me at all right now.

IN THIS MOMENT, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!

I found an article stating that there was a person of interest being pursued in the town, and they were last seen on Harrow Drive.

SHIT, that's only a block away from the school.

I pause for a moment, contemplating whether to call my husband. There aren't any concrete details, and he'll likely panic more than I am. Besides, there's nothing either of us can actually do, right? I choose to wait until I have more information.

While I persist in seeking any relevant information about the situation, my phone rings. My heart skips a beat; it's the school calling. Tears start to flow as I press the accept button. My hands shake as I lift the phone to my ear. It's a recorded message... Oh no...it can't be...please, no...

I'm breathing heavily and can barely comprehend the words I am listening to. Then I hear it...

The voice states "The lockdown is over; your child is safely on their way home."

A wave of relief washes over me, albeit a fragile one, as I lean back against the cold, unforgiving wall and slowly slide down to the floor. My trembling hands release my phone, letting it clatter onto the ground, a stark reminder of the chaos that had just unfolded. As I bring my head down to rest on my knees, the weight of the moment crashes over me like a dark tide, pulling me deeper into a chasm of fear.

The dog, sensing my distress, approaches me cautiously, her warm, gentle tongue brushing against my hands. Each lick is a small anchor, grounding me in the midst of the storm raging inside my mind. I can’t help but sob uncontrollably, the tears flowing freely as the horrific details of what has just unfolded replay in my head.

I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close, desperately seeking comfort in her presence.

With each shuddering breath, the reality sinks in further, the terror of the situation clawing at my insides. The frantic heartbeat of panic mingling with the heavy silence that now envelops me. I clutch the dog tighter, her soft fur a stark contrast to the cold sweat on my skin, and I realize that while I am momentarily relieved, she's still not out of the woods yet. She's still not home!

I'm not sure how long I remained in that state. I only recall that suddenly there was a knock at the back door.

Without a moment's pause, I rush to the kitchen door. Through the glass, I spot my daughter. It's her... she's here, she's home.

I open the door and pull her immediately into a tight embrace. I can't help but cry uncontrollably again. She's hugging me back, and it feels INCREDIBLE!

Eventually, we start to pull away and I find myself gazing at her... the most breathtaking sight I have ever seen! I begin to wipe my tears as I step aside to allow her to come into the house. As she passed by, I remind her how much I love her.

I watch her place her school bag on the bench and hang her coat in the closet, finally feeling some tension begin to leave my body. As we both make our way to the kitchen table to talk about what happened, I can't help but think to myself, "It's absolutely insane that we have to live like this!"