Amber and Mary Jane

There she sat, her long brown hair cascading down, her jacket caped over her short shorts, fishnet stockings hugging her legs, and her sturdy black combat boots. A No Smoking sign sat on the table beside her, but she disregarded it, holding a joint between her fingers, purposely keeping the words out of her view. If others could comprehend the torment she had endured over the past year—the unimaginable loss of her entire family, her beloved husband and three precious children—they would withhold judgment about her recent behavior. They would remember the kind-hearted person and devoted mother she truly was.

Memories flooded her mind as she raised the joint to her lips, recalling the joy of taking her children to the park after school. The image of her three little girls laughing and playing on the jungle gym emerged. Her youngest, Marie, struggling to conquer the monkey bars while her eldest, Sabrina, cheered her on with words of encouragement. Meanwhile, the middle child, Brandy, sought solace in the highest peak of the jungle gym castle, engrossed in her beloved book series, "A Series of Unfortunate Events." These were the cherished moments that Amber held close to her heart. They represented the predictability and stability that had once defined her life. Even without her family's love and support, these memories fueled her will to carry on.

Life without her husband and children seemed almost unbearable. Memories and the numbing effect of marijuana were all that remained in Amber's life. Without her newfound companion, Mary Jane, every fiber of her being ached. Sitting alone in the nearly vacant motel room, Amber found herself consumed by reminiscences of the good times she held dear. But along with the good came the haunting memories that threatened to overshadow them—the vivid recollection of her family torn apart, their lifeless bodies scattered throughout their once happy home.

Amber continued to sit, smoking her joint until it burned to its end, only to reach for the table and roll herself another. She repeated this pattern, perpetuating a life she felt deeply ashamed of. Moving from one motel to another, she couldn't bring herself to sell the family home and establish a new life. Her reliance on marijuana was a sad reality, one that would soon deplete her savings. She knew she would eventually have to sell the house and her habits would worsen, seeking solace in different substances when marijuana no longer sufficed. The looks of pity from friends would persist, perhaps even intensify. The mere thought of this plunged Amber further into despair, and tears welled up, tormenting her with morbid thoughts that swirled relentlessly in her mind.

Suddenly, Amber jolted awake, finding herself in bed next to her husband. She drew a sharp breath of relief, gently placing her palm on his cheek before pressing her lips to his forehead. Springing out of bed, she made her way to her children's bedrooms, showering them with kisses as they peacefully slumbered. It had all been a dreadful dream, the most horrifying nightmare she could fathom. It was time for Amber to leave the nightmare behind, to embrace the present, and prepare breakfast for her family, just as she always did, with a heart full of joy.