Images

It wasn’t her best work, but it would have to do for now. There was always Photoshop for edits, but she knew she would never actually spend the time to work the photos. It wasn’t really her style anyway. While she can appreciate good photo editing, she felt like she was cheating somehow when she worked on her own photos. Besides, the schedule she had laid out in her head while battling insomnia at 2am this morning wouldn’t allow for that.

She packed up her gear, took one last look around and knew she would probably never be back here again.

Driving home, she stopped for a pack of cigarettes and a copy of the Sunday paper. As she started down the highway, the usual dialog began in her head. Am I doing the right thing? How do you balance protecting those you love and looking out for yourself? She wrestled with these questions most of her life and today was no exception.

The sun was beginning to set and there was almost no traffic on the highway. She made better time than she had expected and was a little nervous as she pulled up to the empty office building. It was on the way home and she knew no one would be around to see her hesitate as she was dropping off the package.

She had the Fed Ex envelope ready in the passenger seat. She knew the address by heart and as she started writing, the tears began to flow. No surprise. She pulled out the camera and began quickly scrolling through the pictures one last time. She stopped herself. There was no need to continue, these images would be with her always.

She took the SD card out of the camera, dropped it in the envelope and walked up to the Fed Ex box. She knew he would recognize the handwriting, but would probably be a bit surprised to see the return address as Cincinnati, Ohio.

Once she heard it fall to the bottom, she knew it was over. The images were no longer hers to bear alone.