#SOL20 March 8 The Last Night

It was a Friday night in late June and I was the kind of tired that teachers know as "End-o-year-counting-the-days-exhausted." 

I had at least 20 report cards to finish and an inbox filled with grad school student papers.

My elderly mother had been upset because her anniversary was on the horizon and she wanted to visit the cemetery and she wanted to go out the that restaurant near the cemetery; yet, I had to work on that last for her (in retrospect) anniversary as it was also the last day of school.

"Let's try that Chinese place one last time," he said in a text that was prophetic, yet not unreasonable as the previous take out had been sub par.

We settled onto the porch on that warm June night, just like we normally did. 
Shrimp fried rice and chicken with broccoli in plastic bins with take out chop sticks,
He opened the wine and we began small talk about our day.

In retrospect, tired was not my biggest problem that June day.
In retrospect, it was the last Chinese food I ate.
In retrospect, those report cards and papers did not matter all that much.
In retrospect, I probably carried the conversation as he was quiet.
In retrospect, my mom's problem was not one to worry about.
In retrospect, he probably didn't eat much.
In retrospect, it was suddenly chilly.
In retrospect, it was the last time we sat on the porch.
In retrospect, I can't believe I didn't see "it" coming.
In retrospect, it was the last dinner.
In retrospect, life as I knew it changed in an instant.
In retrospect, it was the last night.

'm participating in the SOL March Writing Challenge.

https://twowritingteachers.org/2020/01/16/sol20overview/

This is a sad slice of my life!