Our Crayon Box.

With his shoulders bent and eyes blazing, he let out a melancholic sound of pain. His breaths ragged, and his body shook as he stared at her mouth. Hoping and praying she'd say something, anything, even if it is a cuss word. But, his wishes were thrashed as the doctor came to him again after some seconds.

"Mr Krane, it has been hours already, I am sorry for your loss, but we need to move her."

"Her??? She has a name... she is... just please check her pulse again. She must be sleeping, wake her up." Krane's painful voice filled the air.

"I am so sorry." The doctor said again while the nurse came in and covered her up as they headed to the morgue.

Krane watched all these without doing anything as his wife's lifeless body was taken away from him. Tears filled his eyes to the brim, but the room he sat in was filled with no sound. As he lifted his eyes up, he met with 6 pairs of eyes staring at him.

"Papa!" His daughter, Nana, screamed, running toward him while his son, Rol, stared at him and also the nanny who had always taken care of them after his wife's disease was detected 2 months ago. It was already in its final stage before they knew, "Lung cancer"... that was all it took to take away his dearly beloved wife.

"Papa, are you crying?" Nana asked with so much innocence that stuck his heart like a dagger.

"I am fine." He managed to pull out, "I am sorry, Mrs Campbell, I know you should have been at home with your families, I'll..."

"I came here to ask if I could take them to my house tonight, Mr Krane. You just lost your wife, and I don't know if your children staying with you is a good idea." Mrs Campbell said cutting Krane's sentence short.

"Oh, thank you. But, it is better if I take them. We are going to be fine." He responded though his heart speaks the opposite words.

After signing the required documents for his wife's burial the next day, Krane took his children and went home. It was a hectic day for him, and he hasn't been stable at work since discovering his wife's disease.

The next day came so early that its presence choked Krane's heart. He wished the day would never come, _{But his wish got thrashed again.}.

Dressing the children's up with Mrs Campbell's help, they all prepared for the burial.

"Papa, why is Mommy there? She promised to buy me a new book and... and a crayon box." Racking her 4 years little brain, she continued, "Mama wasn't at the hospital yesterday, and she didn't come home. Did she do something bad? Is that why she's in that box?" Nana asked, and all Krane could do was to look at his wife's body in the coffin as the pastor recited the bible.

He continued watching as her body was put into the ground and sand thrown on her.

"Papa, tell them not to pour sand on Mommy, Papa, please..." Nana cried, trying to wiggle her way out of Mrs Campbell's hold.

Bending and facing his daughter, Krane spoke, "Mama said she wants to be an angel, and she has to be put there to become one. She has gone up the sky to watch over us. That's her new mission."

"Oh, that's good. My mama is a superhero, I'll tell my friends about it when I get to school."Nana said happily as they went home.

Night came faster, signaling the end of the day as Krane sat on the bed. Memories of his wife holding him from the behind while she sings to him when he gets back from work filled his ears as more tears beheld his face. He sat there, not moving for some time until the presence of the sunrise touched his skin.

Washing up, he walked to the kitchen to prepare food for his children and also prepared them for school while he got prepared for work.

His son, Rol, kept saying some things in his baby voice, and Nana seemed to understand him as she replied back. He is just a year and 4 months old as he started schooling 3 months ago, a month before they found out his wife was sick.

"Papa, we are going to be late for school." Nana said, holding her father's arm, bringing him back to reality.

With a long sigh, Krane took his children to school while he headed for work. He works at a 5 star rated restaurant in the city as a chef, and the work pays very well.

As he almost got to work, a message came through as he waited for the light to turn green. His eyes saw the message sent, and he had to clean his eyes again and again to be sure he didn't see anything wrong.

_{"Due to some inconveniences, you have been relieved with your working duties with us. The month's salary will be paid to your account. Thank you.}".

Before he could think, tons of horn sounds filled his ears. Moving his car forward, he made a U-turn and returned home.

In his mourning state, he came up with an idea of starting his own business. With the little fund with him, he started a "Call, Order, and Deliver" food business.

At first, it was tiring doing everything, maintaining the home, the children, and paying all other monetary dues, but he did not give up.

He did a lot, and Nana helped. Also, he was able to understand Rol's baby language as days went by.

As the day ended, he went to sit on his bed as usual, as memories of his late wife filled him. However, a knock on his door brought him back to reality.

Nana and her brother came in with a gift in hand and a smile on their face.

Handing the gifts over to him, they urged him to open it.

Tears filled his eyes as he opened the wrap and saw the family picture they drew with their mom up as an angel and him with different arms, holding lots of things at once.

"Happy International Men Day, Papa. You are our crayon box Papa. Every color picked creates something beautiful, and so do you with your hands. I love you, Papa." Nana said, hugging her father.

"I lobe chu tu Papa." Rol responded, hugging him too.

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