Resting on top of the Cooper’s house, holding a journal in my lap, I write: The morning of January 26, 2006, I’m outside the Cooper residents, watching over them as they sleep. I must admit, for something similar to me, receiving an assignment before a family member requested is unique, but like everyone, they too have issues. However, I believe there’s hope for them, but I’m not–

My hand becomes numb, As the essence of darkness hits me. Wait a minute–what’s this? Fog forms surrounding the area. In the midst of witnessing this, my spirit sinks, realizing I recognize this sensation.

From a distance, he emerges and drifts towards me. I wonder, Is the Angel of Death here for someone from the Cooper family? I consider. No, it can’t be. I have received no news. What on Earth is he doing here? Perhaps it’s a slow night and Death wants to chat with me? Oh my, I’m mystified.

Now, I’ve known Death for many years, although I wouldn’t call Death a friend. We understand and respect each other’s duties.

As my curiosity grows, I float over and ask, “What are you doing lurking?”

Death eyes focusing on the house. “Someone here is on my list,” responds Death with a deep voice.

“What? You must be mistaken. No one has said anything to me.”

Death turns, glares at me. “When have I made a mistake? Never.”

Narrowing my eyebrows as I consider what I just heard. In denial, I cautiously ask, “Will you tell me who’s on the list?” 

“They urged me not to inform you. You know who believes you’re getting to attached.”

Death has never withheld knowledge from me. “No, I’m not. Please tell me.”

“I cannot tell you. I must go. More work to complete. I will return when it’s time.”

Death turns and vanishes.

Shaking my head, I say, “No. Not this household.” Not wanting to wait around. I leave the Cooper house in search of answers.

Over 400 miles away, in Taylor, Texas, Abigail Jennings awakens to the blaring sound of her alarm clock and turns it off. She doesn’t want to wake up her younger sister, Chloe, with whom she shares a bedroom. Abigail sees the time and wonders if this morning she’s defeated Scott. She feels around for her phone. Where did I put it? She wants to know if she’s received a text message. She searches before remembering. Oh, I laid it on my headboard.

Upon discovering it, she turns on the screen and becomes blinded by the brightness. When her eyesight improves, she doesn’t see any new messages. She congratulates herself for winning this morning, and she sends her boyfriend, Scott, a message.

Scott Cooper examines the glowing numbers of his alarm clock staring at him. It reads 6:05 a.m. Realizes he’s received the text from Abigail.

“Howdy, darlin’, I woke up before you did. Smiles,” the text reads.

The night before, they’d both agreed to set their alarm clocks to sound at six o’clock in the morning. The champion had to send a text proving they had won. Losing doesn’t bother Scott. He smirks and chuckles over his defeat.

Sitting at the foot of the bed, he smells the coffee brewing, then smirks. Does Abigail have her cup of coffee? If I bet her, would I win? He considers of the game they’re involved in. He grins and returns a message:

“Yes, dear, you beat this morning. But I bet I can make a cup of coffee before you do.”

He walks down the stairs, and sees Jackie, his soon-to-be ex-wife, snoozing on the sofa. Then goes to his youngest son’s bedroom door and peeks in on Marcus, who’s sleeping. Next, he confirms his other two sons are sleeping by peeking into their room.

He shuffles to the kitchen for his coffee and shoots another text:

“The first-place winner for the fastest coffee retriever goes to–drumroll, please! Scott Cooper!”

Abigail receives the message and giggles. She appreciates the game they’re playing. It adds joy to the start of her day. I would have won if I didn’t share a bathroom with my older brother and sister. Pressed for time, she gets ready for the day’s work.

Squinting, she remembers, Oh, that’s right. I need to take provisions for my evil monthly visitor. After she collected everything for the day, she delivers another text:

“Yes, darlin’, you did.”

Scott sips the coffee and strolls to Jason and Thomas’ room. He struggles to wake Jason. It takes a few attempts. Scott shakes his shoulder and whispers, “Jason, buddy, wake up. It’s time to get ready. If we leave in time, we can stop at the diner to eat breakfast before I take you to school.”

Jason looks up. “Really?” he inquires in a groggy voice.

“Yes. b-but we need to be quiet.”

“Okay, Dad. Give me a few seconds.”

Scott nods. He tiptoes over to Thomas. “Hey, it’s time to awake sunshine.”

Thomas, the light sleeper of the family who never has trouble waking in the mornings.

His eyes lit up. “We really going to the diner, Daddy?” asks Thomas. 

Scott cracks a grin. “Yes, Thomas.”

Thomas gets out of bed and responds. “All right, Daddy!”

While the little ones are getting dressed. Scott looks through the window at the temperature. It shows ten degrees; he snatches the keys with the remote fob attach and starts the pickup. As he glances around, he finds dried-up food on the dinner table, dirty dishes in the sink, clothes, and food crumbs everywhere. His arms cross as his blood boils.

I don’t understand you, Jackie. Why can’t you clean our home? I bust my butt every day to support the family, and I must wake to the sight of a messy home every morning? I will be grateful when I get a divorce, he considers.

Scott makes his way to the living room. “Jackie! Jackie!” 

She answers sarcastically. “Yes, Scott?”

“I’m taking the older boys to school. Will you please clean our home after you get Marcus on the bus?”

She pauses, looks up with an obscure expression. “Yeah, I will. Now leave me alone. I’m trying to sleep.”

Scott’s face reddens, keeping his mouth shut to avoid an altercation. He returns to the kitchen.

“Boys. It’s time to go.”

After Abigail gets ready, she heads to the kitchen, where she can overhear the rest of the family conversing. Her body goes numb, and the room falls silent as she enters. 

Her father sneers as she strolls by. He twists around and aggressively says, “Amelia, Chloe, time to leave.”

Amelia whispers, “What about your coffee?”

He grunts. “I’ll make it when I come back home.”

After Abigail watches them take off, she makes her lunch and leaves in her brother’s pickup. As Lucian, her brother, drives. 

She unlocks her phone and starts typing a message: “Hiya honey, I left the house and I’m heading to work.”

Moments later, Scott replies: “Okay, honey. We’ll shortly be heading out. Will you drop me a text when you arrive?”

She replies: “Yes, darlin’, I will.”

Lucien looks over. “I noticed you stayed up last night.”

“Yes, I was chatting on the phone.”

Clenching his teeth, Lucien asks, “With Scott?”

“Yeeaah.”

“You realize, I have known Scott for years. I know he will not divorce his wife for you.”

Grasping her phone, she snaps. “It’s my decision to make. I gotta see for myself if it’s gonna work out between Scott and me. This has nothing to do with you. You can keep your opinion to yourself, and I don’t care whatcha think. Wanna know why? Because you’re not in our relationship and I reckon what we do is none of your dame business,” as she gives her brother a wincing stare.

Abigail wonders, why can’t anyone be happy for me? 

Scott and the youngsters start their journey to the diner. Scott begins perspiring as he gets near the restaurant. He’s expecting Heather will be there working. 

Scott and the lads enter the diner... “Daddy, let’s sit at that table,” Jason asks upon their arrival. 

“Get back over here!” whispers Scott in a firm tone. “We’re going to sit over there,” pointing at a corner booth

Jason goes to his father, a little baffled by his father’s attitude. As they sit, Scott spots Heather across the room, who notices what had transpired. Her figure is tall and slim, and she has green eyes and silky brown hair that falls to her shoulders. 

Wow, she’s looking incredible today. Scott wishes he could share his opinion with her. 

Her cheeks become pink as she approaches their table. She rests her hand on his shoulder. After that, she looks into his eyes and says, In a flirtatious and delightful manner. “Hello Scott. How are you three doing?” 

“We good,” the boys say in response. 

“Wow, that’s fantastic! How are you doing today, sweetheart?” 

Scott gets a speech block as he try’s speaking, “–I’m,” after struggling to say I’m he follows with, “doing fine, H-Heather”. 

she considers saying Aw, it’s so cute when you do that, but instead say, “What would you boys like to have?”

“I’d like some bacon and pancakes with a glass of milk,” says Jason. 

“Me too! Me too!” adds Thomas. 

Heather turns to Scott. “And for you?”

He stammers as he places his order, and she maintains her pleasant demeanor. 

“Excellent, I’ll pass this along to the chef. It won’t take long for your food to arrive.” She gives him a wink. 

In a daze, Heather steps to the counter and turns the ticket in. Tiffany, another server, discovers Heather cannot avoid glaring at him.

Tiffany makes her way over to her when Heather inquires, “Did you witness that? Scott sat at my booth on purpose.” 

He probably doesn’t enjoy sitting at tables.

“No. That’s not it. He’s there because of me.” 

“Didn’t you mention, he has a wifey?” 

“He’s getting a divorce, and I want to be with him.”

Tiffany squints. “Didn’t you state something about him having a companion?” 

“Yes, but they recently started dating, and she lives in Texas.”

“You don’t understand what you’re getting yourself into.”

Heather rolls her eyes, twirls around, and mutters to herself, “I will take my chances.” 

After a few minutes, she delivers Scott and the children’s breakfast. 

As Heather places the plates on the table, she says, “Here you go, gentlemen!” 

“T-Thank y-you,” says Scott.

She smiles. “You’re welcome, dear. I will come back when you have finished eating,” she responds passionately.

After their plates are empty, she approaches the table. “Can I get you guys anything else?”

They politely refuse.

“Are ya coming back here for lunch?”

Scott looks up. “N-no, I-I have to go o-out of t-town t-today.”

She looks down and gives him the bill. He gets the money out of his wallet and hands it over. She softy touches and holds his hand for a second while getting the cash from him.

“Keep the change,” he says in the smoothest tone he can muster. 

“Thank you, love.” 

The boys giggle and Jason says, “Aww, Daddy has another girlfriend!”

Heather’s cheeks turn red as she attempts to hold back a smile. “No, we’re just friends.” 

Wanting to crawl under the table, Scott breaks the awkwardness by checking the time and saying. “Boys, we’ve got to go.” 

They rise from the booth and head towards the exit. As they’re stepping out, Scott glances back at Heather and smiles.

“Later.”

“B-bye, babe.”

He grins and steps out the exit after the boys.

They get in the pickup, and he drives to the Christian private school, where Jason and Thomas attend.

When they arrive at school, As Scott’s nostrils flare, he says, “Boys, we need to talk.”

The boys look at each other.

“Remember, you two are both grounded for setting your bedroom carpet on fire the other night. When you get home, neither one of you can go outside. You two cannot play your video games either. I want both of you to stay in your room until I get home!”

“Okay, Dad.”

“O’ay, Daddy.”

They both grab their backpacks and hop out onto the walkway. Scott watches them as they walk through the school entrance.

As Scott drives towards his workplace, I return, sitting beside him. I’ve learned what’s coming. I pass this warning in hope Scott will pay attention. 

An event will take place today. If you heed my warning, a great deal of suffering will not come to your family. 

The radio tuned to Christian music as he drives. From out of nowhere, his stomach does a back flip as he trembles. He’s overwhelmed by an essence. 

“Pay attention, Scott. Please.” 

Not recognizing what it is, Scott tries ignoring the feelings. He knows he has a long day.

“Why won’t you listen, Scott? I sent you this sense as a warning. I know what’s to come.”