Martha's Loss

"Who is there?" The elderly women asked. Another creak of the floor boards could be heard behind her. Martha did not have the energy to turn herself about in that old rocking chair to see who was sneaking up on her. "Emma? Is that you?" Martha asked. There was no respond. Emma was the young nurse who tended to Martha. Martha was thankful for Emma, without her, Martha feared she would have to live her remaining days in a home for the elderly. Martha had lived a long, enjoyable life, and was now nearing her eight-first birthday.

"Emma, if that's you, for God's sake child say something!" Martha demanded. There was silence that filled Martha's bedroom. The only sound to be heard was the blowing of wind through the sheer curtains that hung above the French doors. Just through the French doors was a balcony that had an impeccable view. The balcony overlooked the plantation that Martha had inherited after her husband had passed. At the time of her husband's passing, Martha was only twenty-three.

By the time that Martha was twenty-three, she had already bore five children. At seventeen, Martha had a son, Isaac. At eighteen Martha gave birth to twin boys, Aaron and Matthew. At twenty, Martha gave birth to their first and only daughter, Rachel. At twenty-two Martha gave birth, though there were many complications during the labor process, to a healthy baby boy which they named Jacob. Martha's children have since grown and had children of their own.

After her husband had passed, Martha had gone through a rough patch in her life. She had been discouraged from every angle. Many people thought that she should remarry and give her children a father and allow a man to run the plantation. People often snickered at Martha for her decision to raise her children on her own, and to manage the plantation. Once her husband had passed, much of the help had left the plantation. Only a few faithful workers had remained at the plantation ready and willing to help Martha. There were many days that Martha had to weather through while running on only a couple of hours worth of sleep.

Martha was no fool, she was sitting on a gold mine so to speak, and she was not going to share what her husband had worked so hard for with another man. Martha was right; the plantation now brings in over a million dollars a year.

The floor boards creaked once again. This time, the sound of heavy foot steps neared Martha, one at a time. Slowly, the intruder crept closer to the rocking chair where Martha sat, facing the French doors. Martha's heart began racing. Who could it be? Who was sneaking up on her like that? Martha could feel the fear in herself grow stronger with every creak of the floor board that she heard.

Suddenly, the creaking had stopped. Right behind Martha! What is going on? Martha wanted to know who it was that stood behind her. Isaac? No, Isaac lived to far away now to just drop in unannounced. Aaron? Maybe it was Matthew? No, no. She has not seen or heard from either boy in over ten years. Rachel? No, it couldn't be, Rachel died nearly twenty years ago in a horrible car accident. Perhaps it was Jacob? No, it could not be, Jacob was still gone fighting the war. Martha had not heard from Jacob since he enrolled into the army at eighteen years of age.

A mans swung around the front of the rocking chair and kneeled down beside Martha. "Hello, mamma." The man had said softly. "Jacob?" Martha had said as she struggled to raise her hand to his face. "You came home. I knew that you would. You came back to me." "That's right Mamma, I'm home now." Jacob had said while smiling.