The Little Things

The kids were bunched up in their shared bed, a normal sight for 2:00 am. It wasn’t much, but having something to sleep on was a vast improvement over their last arrangement. This single, full-size bed was downright lavish. Jake watched his kids sleep. Nothing else, in all of life, gave him this type of joy. A deep fondness swelled from his chest and slowly engulfed his thoughts. He often felt this way when he could watch his children, unbothered and safe. He brushed a tear from his cheek, grateful they were warm and comfortable.

He squeezed Beth’s hand, and turned to watch her. She was lost in her own thoughts as she took in the sight of their sleeping children. A familiar tinge of doubt passed through Jake’s mind and he shook his head to clear it out, like he’d done a dozen times before.

“Beth, should this be the last time, we have enough don’t we?”

“I don’t know J”, Beth said, as she reached down to kiss his hand.

They sat there in silence for a moment longer, the ticking from Jake’s analog wrist watch the only noise they could hear. Then, the view of their sleeping children was obscured by the alarm notification that popped up on his cell phone’s screen. He exhaled loudly, then slipped his phone into his pocket.

Just before pulling his balaclava mask over his mouth he grabbed Beth’s head and gently moved her forehead to meet his, “ready baby?” She gave a curt nod then pulled her mask up as well.

They both turned to look at the bound security guard leaning against the wall. Jake shook off the sentimental persona and settled into a demeanor, hard as steel and sharp as a razor’s edge. He removed the Glock-22 from the small of his back and confidently strutted toward the sentry. He kneeled so that he and the guard’s ears almost touched, then he quietly asked, “do you have kids?” The guard fervently shook his head, so Jake removed the bandana from his mouth.

“I do, I do, yes.”

“You ever watch them sleep?”

The guard hesitated, confused by this line of questioning. “Uh, what?…”

“Friend, I don’t think you’re enjoying the little things. If you get out of this, I suggest you give it a try.”

“I will, just please don’t hurt me.”

Jake cocked his head to the right, “that’s entirely up to you. You know why we’re here, right? Where is the…”

There was a whiz, then another, the security guard flinched when drops of spittle and blood splashed on his face. Jake coughed and then slowly sank to the floor and curled into the fetal position, the same way he always slept as a young child. As his vision faded he saw Beth escaping through an emergency exit.

“Good luck” Jake muttered, as he stared at the wall, which slowly changed into a frozen image of his children sleeping warm, comfortable, and safe in their bed.