#fastandfurious | The Ink Well Fast and Furious Festival - Day Five/ Lee's return

Mark phoned Kristin unexpectedly. The custom for the past 20 years was for them to call each other only on special dates and on the occasion of their own birthdays. This was how they kept in touch since their separation 20 years ago, ten years after Lee's disappearance. The special dates excluded, without agreeing, the missing son's birthday.

"I'm staying at a hotel three blocks from your house. I got some news yesterday that you should know about."

"Is it about Lee?" said Kristin as if she was waiting for the news every minute of her life.

"Yes. I just know what I'm going to tell you. Try to stay calm."

Kristen sat up in bed, summoned all her strength and answered.
"I've learned to be calm, I have thirty years of training."

"I know," Marck said.

"I didn't tell you that I still keep a private detective on the search for Lee. Yesterday the detective called me, told me he located him in Iceland several weeks ago and talked to him. Also Lee has been looking for us for 20 years. "

"Are you sure, he's been looking for us? I don't understand." Kristi replied, filled with indescribable feelings.

"I don't quite understand either. Lee is now flying here, I spoke to him just yesterday. He asked me to let you know when it's only two hours to landing, I gave him your address, he'll be here soon."

"I don't know what to do or what to feel, Mark. It even occurs to me that I don't want to see him, is this a dream?"

"I'm leaving immediately to be with you. I'll be there in five minutes. We're still a family Kristin, we'll welcome him together."

When Lee knocked on the door, the former spouses held hands and gave each other a long hug. Kristin remained seated on the couch. From there she watched as Marck opened the door and saw a mature man enter.

"That's not my son," she thought for a moment. She saw Marck look closely at the man entering and heard the laughter. Tears rolled freely down Kristen's face as she watched mesmerized as the image unfolded before her. At that moment the two men were hugging, Mark was laughing, Lee was crying like a five year old who couldn't tell what was wrong with him. Kristin felt her soul leaving her and looked down at herself watching the scene from above. And she watched as Lee walked towards her and knelt down, she saw him put his head on her legs as he tied her arms around her. She knew then that it was indeed her son, even if she didn't see his face.

When Lee was able to lift his face Kristin pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away his tears, slowly and gently. Mark respectfully stood quietly beside them both, watching them, he too was crying silently. Lee reached out and joined his father in the hug.

After a while Lee said, "Dad, Mom, I must explain, but first I want to apologize."

Both parents said in unison, "No, son.".

The sound of the short sentence filled the room like heavenly music.
Kristín, still crying, took her son by the hand.

"You must be hungry !, do you still like sausages ?, come let's go to the kitchen, there is time to talk."

"That's right, there is time to talk," Marck said, as he followed Kristin and Lee into the kitchen.

I was able to finish this exercise in 45 minutes. Just the writing of the story. Twenty minutes into the writing, Lee still hadn't come home. I found it a difficult challenge. I came up with several ideas to develop but they all needed quite a bit of writing.