[ WP ] `` I 'm sorry , but the thing you were looking for is sold out . ''

It almost seemed as if today would come and go as any other, untouched by fate and destined to pass unnoticed. It was a frigid day, and Terry could almost hear his chapped lips crack in the bitter winter air. He stepped into his car and pulled out his mobile phone. 
 
 “ Call Sarah. ” 
 
 “ Calling Sarah, mobile or home? ” 
 
 “ Mobile. ” 
 
 He pushed in the electric lighter in his car and pulled a Marlboro out of his pack, the heat had gone out of his car and his cigarette was the only warm thing about his drive home. 
 
 “ Hello? ” 
 
 “ Hey, it ’ s me. You cooking dinner? ” 
 
 “ No, I didn ’ t have time to get to the store today. ” 
 
 “ Okay then, I was wondering if you ’ d like to try something new today. Sully told me about a great new Thai place on the corner of Court St. ” 
 
 “ Do you really think the kids are going to eat Thai? ” 
 
 “ Oh it ’ s good for them, and Eric and Abby need to learn to appreciate different things, we can ’ t very well have spaghetti or chicken nuggets every night. ” 
 
 “ Fine, but you have to drive. ” 
 
 “ Fine by me, see you soon. Love you. ” 
 
 He rounded a corner, and cracked his window. He didn ’ t want the car to smell like smoke; after all he had to set an example for Eric and Abby. 
 
 He drew his last on the half finished cigarette before flicking it out the window. As he pulled in the drive he reached into the console, and pulled out an aerosol and quickly covered the scent. He idled in the driveway until he saw his wife open the door and his two children waddle outside, dressed as warm as marshmallows. 
 
 Sarah sat the kids into the car, and then herself. She leaned over and pecked Terry on the cheek as he pulled out of the drive. 
 
 It wasn ’ t long before they arrived at the new restaurant. The exterior was reminiscent of an oriental palace, and the parking lot was small but full. Terry smiled as his children marveled at the large decorative door that separated them from the warm restaurant inside. Terry opened the door and his wife and kids filed in. 
 “ Welcome to Palm Thai, how many? ” 
 
 “ Four please. ” 
 
 “ Right this way. ” 
 
 The kids led the way while he and Sarah followed behind. She wrapped her arm around his and pulled herself closer and whispered, “ She has pretty good Engl— ” 
 
 “ —Sarah! Don ’ t be rude. ” 
 
 “ It ’ s not rude. I ’ m impressed. ” 
 
 Terry sighed as Sarah slid into the booth. They began looking over the menu, and they soon placed their order. The staff was incredibly friendly and even offered various samples. 
 
 “ Try this, spicy egg roll with yummy sauce. ” 
 
 “ I don ’ t want to! ” Abby cried. Sarah shot a glance toward her that was firm but loving. 
 
 “ Abby dear, just eat it. Try something new I promise it ’ ll be delicious. ” She said as she dipped the roll in the sauce and took a bite. 
 
 “ See, ” she began, “ it ’ s delicious! ” 
 
 Abby looked wary but after Eric reached over and grabbed one of the egg rolls she decided she would too. Terry ’ s eyes were so intent on Abby and Eric he didn ’ t even notice his wife. 
 
 “ Come on guys, go ahead. Eat it. ” Abby looked nervous and she looked up at her mother for reassurance. Her nervous face evolved into terror. 
 
 “ Daddy, what ’ s mommy doing? ” 
 
 Sarah ’ s face was red, almost purple and she was beginning to dry heave. 
 
 “ Oh God, your epi-pen, where is your epi-pen Sarah? ” He grabbed, the waitress passing by, “ Are there peanuts in the yummy sauce? ” 
 
 “ We cook everything in peanut oil, sir. ” 
 
 “ Damn it, where ’ s the epi-pen Sarah? ” She pointed at her purse. Terry reached over and grabbed the purse and began digging through it wildly. 
 
 “ It ’ s not in here. It ’ s not home is it? ” Sarah nodded in a panic. 
 
 “ Put your coats on kids, we ’ re leaving. ” Terry hurried his kids and wife into the car and sped, red light through red light rushing to the pharmacy. 
 
 He helped Sarah out of the car, and hurried her through the door. 
 
 “ Somebody help us! I need an epi-pen! ” 
 
 The pharmacist looked at him, and then at Sarah. His eyes widened, “ Yeah of course! ” 
 
 The manager seemed to hear this and hurried over to the pharmacist. Terry could barely hear him ask if he checked them for a prescription. After a little arguing the manager coolly looked over and said, “ I ’ m sorry sir, but we require a prescription for epi-pens. Do you have one on you? ” 
 
 “ Look at my wife you idiot, just give us the damn epi-pen! ” The manager was obviously shocked, but he was compliant. He walked between the shelves, and came back empty handed. 
 
 “ I -- I ’ m sorry it appears we ’ re out of them at the moment. We can ’ t help any customer ’ s without a prescription anyway. ” 
 
 I don ’ t know if she gave up after hearing that the pharmacy was out of epi-pens, or if she just didn ’ t have enough air, but with the bad news Sarah fell to the ground. The sound of her head cracking against the ground obviously affected the pharmacist. He ran to the back and came back with an epi-pen in hand. The manager grabbed his arm, 
 
 “ They don ’ t have a prescription, do you want to lose your license? ” 
 
 The pharmacist shook free and ran to Sarah, he jabbed her in the thigh with the pen. Terry and the pharmacist waited patiently for a sign, for her to breathe deeply and come out of it. Seconds felt like minutes, and seconds revealed the blood pooling under her auburn hair. 
 
 “ S—Sarah? Damn it, call an ambulance, something! ” 
 
 He reached for her neck, and felt her pulse. “ Sarah don ’ t do this to me, don ’ t do this. Sarah wake up honey, wake up baby. ” 
 
 The moment her blue eyes went gray carved itself into his memory like a bright light against morning eyes, and he knew; Sarah was gone. 

