“You have just won a million dollars!” shouted Regis on the most popular show that has ever hit television. A fifty-one year old retired, high school teacher sat on the hot seat in absolute amazement. In seconds his life changed from being an ordinary, retired father of two, and living with his wife in a small Manhattan home to becoming a millionaire. I sat in my living room wishing that it was me who had answered that last question correctly in that seat, instead of sitting in my favorite black leather chair that faces the television at a perfect angle. I would have done anything to be that man at that moment. I couldn’t imagine what was going through his mind.

There I was, sitting at home, watching all the excitement on television, dreaming for my life to be different. How easily I had forgotten all of the good things in my life. Indeed there was a million things for me to be happy about. I had a wonderful handsome husband, a bright young nine-year-old daughter, a son in his pre-teenage years and so much more. My life wasn’t bad at all, “money isn’t everything,” I thought to myself.

“Knock…. Knock…knock.” sounded the door to wake me out of my short daydream. Remembering that I had lent our bag of sugar to a friendly neighbor, I walked towards the door, unlatched the top latch and then the bottom. I was shocked to see two men standing at the door. They stood in full uniform, with stern faces, both tall and well built. I didn’t know what to think, my eyes began to sting and I could feel them fill with tears. Something within me said that bad news was upon me.

“Ma’am, we are very sorry to inform you that…”

“NO, STOP RIGHT THERE” I screeched. The taller of the two stepped forth and drew me towards him as the other man continued.

“We are very sorry ma’am, but there has been a terrible accident, your children and your husband were killed this evening… there was nothing anybody could do.” I could not believe it; all three of them were perfect. My husband worked with the church, he was always faithful to our religion and, both of the kids were following his footsteps. It was as if someone had taken a million knives and pierced them into my heart. Slowly I pulled away from the officer, and walked towards the black leather chair. The officers followed me. They asked if there was anyone they could call. Even though I wanted to be alone I pointed to our small black address book on the little coffee table in the corner and gave them my mother’s name.

My mother came over as soon as she could. I sat in the chair and did not move an inch. My palms and my back were filled with sweat causing me to stick to the leather. I was in complete shock, disbelief, and total awe. As the officers made their way out, they talked to my mother in the front hall giving her the complete details. All I could hear was mumbling, which was a good thing, I would not have been able to handle any more information about the situation.

I sat motionless and tried to understand how god could be so cruel. How one man could win a million dollars within the same hour that another lady looses all the people close to her, collectively, her whole life