FLIGHT 426 GONE MISSING ALEX WITTENAUER, 11
-Michael Wallace-
“I’M tired of this Michael! I feel like I’m the only one trying here!” Lori screamed as she
aggressively threw over a box of jewelry; all of her fake diamond earrings and wedding ring falling out onto the fl oor. “What do you want me to do?” I said, raising my voice. “You know this has been a rough past few months for me!” I said reminiscing on the old life I had. Times were simpler at the beginning of our marriage, I was set fi nancially, and I had everything I wanted. I had my college sweetheart and two young beautiful children. Things began going downhill after I had been laid off of my job, and Lori had to go back to work. We downsized to an apartment, and pulled the children out of their private school. Things just were not the same. “I shouldn’t have to harass you everyday to get a job and support your family! I’m sick and tired of this! I need a break.” Lori violently yelled, walking towards the closet to pack her bag. I tried everything I could to stop her but she seemed as if she already had her mind made up. She packed her bag furiously, stormed out the door, slamming it behind her. I had switched from the man she loved most to her biggest adversary. This was the last time I saw her. It was a week later I got a call from a disclosed number, “Is this Michael Wallace at 1729 King Drive?” A serious voice questioned. “Yes” I responded, “Who is this?” “My name is Kyle Schwartz, I work with the LFCU, Lost Flights Control Unit. Are you the spouse of Lori Wallace?” “Yes”, I hesitantly replied thinking of what possibly could have happened the night Lori left. “I am sorry to inform you that fl ight 426 to Las Vegas has been lost, and is assumed to have crashed. The lost fl ight is currently under investigation from my unit, but I would like to inform you that your wife is presumed dead. I am very sorry sir.” So much shock came to my body I nearly fell to the fl oor. I grabbed the chair next to me in fear that I might faint. My brain wandered and created an illusion that she was not really gone. It did not seem real, initially I thought this was some sort of cruel joke she was playing on me. Stuttering, I responded “That’s impossible, I don’t believe it.” “I’m sorry sir, we are looking further into the accident to see what happened. You will be alerted as soon as the investigation is complete.” The phone hung up, and I found myself sitting on a cold wooden chair feeling as lonely and broken as I had ever felt in my life. I had no job, wife, or hope to move on. That night was the most lonely night of my life, as I laid in bed I began to ponder what went wrong, where the trouble started, and how I could do nothing now. The next morning I found the strength to call the kids down, and tell them the wretched news. I saw the same reactions in my children that I found in myself, at fi rst disbelief, then realization of the situation. They were both struck with grief and sadness. A few weeks had passed, I had not found myself, and things were getting worse daily. I had no motivation to wake up in the morning, no drive to be successful, and no end goal in sight. I kept telling myself that it was all my fault that she was gone. On this same day,
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