Remembe(red) - A Million Little Pieces

It happened so fast that it took me a few seconds to realize what had happened.

I had that fleeting, completely irrational wish for time to rewind, for a second chance, for it to be undone...

and I felt the tears tickling the back of my eyes, my eyelid twitching, my nose burning like I was on the verge of sneezing.

And I cried. I couldn't help it.

I looked down at the shards of glass at my feet, saw the thousand tiny sparkling specs cast across the kitchen and dining room floor.

I plopped down and brought my knees to my chest and sobbed.

It just wasn't fair.

It wasn't fair. I was so klutzy, I dropped everything. I ruined everything.

Nana would be so upset.

The antique crystal punch bowl that she loved, along with all 12 cups - shattered on the floor of my home that she never got to see.

She would have asked me what I thought I was doing, trying to bring that heavy thing down from the cabinet without help.

My last memento of my Nana, gone.

Just like the set of wine glasses that I so foolishly set out at my last party; all of which were broken by guests.

Just like the handmade ornaments she made when I was a child; torn apart by the kittens.

I stood on top of the kitchen counter in my bare feet, holding onto the top of the cabinet with one hand while I tried to pick up my great-grandmother's antique crystal punch bowl with the other.

A horrid scene played out in my mind.

I hopped off the counter and called out to my husband, "Honey! Can you help me with this punch bowl?"

"I don't want to drop it."

* This is fiction...but every time I have a party, I am terrified of breaking this punch bowl. For some reason, this is what came to mind when I thought "Crash." Also? This prompt is 5 days late...what can I say, it's been a busy week. 

Better late than never!