Life Sentence

"I wonder where they're going." Edna voiced these words to herself but also aloud - as she sat in the pool area of her Deerfield Beach apartment complex. She was seated next to her friend and neighbor Janice, who had a glass of iced tea and a book by her side. Both women had short, grey hair and were in their mid to late 70s.

This was South Florida on yet another sunny, routine, and rather dreary day. It was the end of April - but did that even matter? After all, one day was just like the next. April was the same as June - and July and August only differentiated themselves by the added humidity in the air that was so thick it was almost like a blanket that could suffocate you at will.

Janice looked up at Edna and asked, "Did you say something?" Edna nodded and pointed at the impressive plane that was now starting to disappear from sight in the clear, perfectly blue sky above them. Edna answered," I was looking at that jet. Just contemplating where they might be headed now. Aren't you curious?"

"Does it really matter, dear?" asked Janice, as she opened her slightly worn-looking Jackie Collins novel. "We don't know them, right? And besides, look all around us Edna! We're truly in paradise here. I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else -- can you?"

As Janice started to read more of her book, Edna frowned and shook her head from side to side. Almost to herself, she stated, "Paradise." Then, she got up and walked closer to the well-maintained kidney-shaped pool. She carefully bent down - making sure not to slip and fall. God knows she didn't need an injury on top of everything else that was wrong in her life these days. Then, she felt the water. Warm. Too warm. As always.

Life here was predictable -- too predictable. Just like the tide. The merciless tide that was close enough to hear but just a little too far to ever see from the building. And yet, that sound...those crashing waves -- they never stopped...even when Edna wished they would just once...just for a few seconds.

Janice asked, as she kept reading and didn't look up, "Are you going for a swim today, Eddie? That's a new bathing suit, isn't it? I bought three more myself - but I keep wearing the same black one-piece every day!"

Edna frowned and looked at the long, kidney-shaped pool in front of her. What if she just threw herself into the water and never came out? She could hold her breath for just long enough and then...would the end be peaceful? Or would she feel anxious...afraid in those last moments? She wasn't sure. Maybe drowning wasn't the best way out after all.

Edna merely told her friend, "I'm trying to decide whether or not I should kill myself in the water or do it back in my apartment."

Janice laughed - almost snorted - as she said, "Oh Eddie - you're too much! As if you would ever want to leave this place!"

Edna considered this for a moment and then leaned against the railing of the pool's steps. Was it even possible to get out of here? Or maybe, just maybe, they were in some sort of trap. A permanent life sentence. Were they in purgatory? With the Florida heat...could it even be Hell? She wasn't sure. There wasn't anything terribly unpleasant or difficult here. But the sameness...the repetition of the routine...she was starting to forget time and place. And maybe that was even worse than Hell after all.

Janice put her book down for a second and took a sip of her iced tea. Then, she asked, "Edna? What happened to your son visiting? I thought he was coming today."

Edna carefully stood up, perfectly straight, and then she walked toward Janice again. As she did, she averted her eyes a bit and then tried to think of the best approach to take with her. After a few moments, she just inquired, "How's the book?"

Janice, "It's trashy fun...just like me! But wait -- you didn't answer my question. What about your son?"

Edna squinted a little, due to the very bright, strong sun, and then she met Janice's stare. She smiled -- a bit too large a smile - and told her, "Johnny rescheduled his trip. He had so many unexpected meetings come up and actually - it was my idea that we postpone."

Janice, "Really? I'm sorry - I know you were looking forward to seeing him and your little granddaughter."

Edna, "Yes. But we're going to Zoom later. That's almost the same thing, right?" She laughed and Janice frowned for a second before joining in with her.

Janice, "Sometimes it's better! I can't tell you how often I am sitting with a guest when I think...why can't I just end their visit! If only it were FaceTime or Zoom and I could just pretend the connection dropped - and then turn them off!"

Edna, "Exactly! So now - I'll see them both in an easy, low-key way. And when we've had enough, I can close the laptop screen and get back to my life right away! Besides, you know how messy kids can be - my apartment would've been a war zone within hours."

Janice, "Yes. And to go along with that metaphor, let's say you definitely dodged a bullet!"

Both women smiled and then Janice turned her gaze to her book again. Edna, almost unable to drop the subject, blurted out, "Of course, he was beside himself -- so upset that he wasn't going to be seeing me here today. I had to let him down gently and insist that he focus on his work. I mean, I'm fine! I don't need him to check in on me so often. -"

Janice asked, without looking up, "When was the last time he was here?"

Edna looked away and then stated, "I'm not sure. Not that long ago...last month I think? Maybe longer..."

Janice just grunted in reply and Edna looked at the pool again. She slowly got up and, for a second, really thought about throwing herself into the deep end. Then, a loud sound above grabbed her attention. She looked in the sky - still too perfect and sunny - and she saw the large, commercial jet circling above them again. And as she kept her focus on the plane -- with incredible intensity - she asked herself, with undeniable longing and real pain, "I wonder where they're going."

THE END.