passion of physics outside of his day job.
Sebastian lived here, in Georgia, with his wife, Dobria, and their two sons, Caleb and Balthazar. Caleb was the oldest son. He was very athletic, intelligent, a people pleaser, and kind hearted. Balthazar was also intelligent and precocious, but lacked the social intelligence and personality his brother had. Balthazar spent much of his time reading, researching, problem-solving, and studying. They were both very strong-willed children. And they shared one other common thread. They were both starved for Sebastian’s attention, acceptance, and love.
One day Sebastian received a call late in the afternoon. It was the boys’ school. The director said that Dobria did not make it in to pick up the boys and asked if he could come get them. Sebastian picked up the boys and headed home. The entire drive home, Sebastian was in a fog, wondering where Dobria could be. When they arrived home, there was still no sign of Dobria. The house looked undisturbed. Dishes from the morning breakfast were still in the sink. Sebastian paced the floor while the boys ate dinner.
After dark, a knock at the door stopped Sebastian’s pacing. The boys had already prepared for bed. Sebastian rushed to the door. The boys rushed to the stairs in hopes of getting a glimpse of their mother, bright eyed and smiling with open arms.
Two state troopers were standing where Dobria should have been.
“Mr. Onoch?”
Sebastian cleared his throat. “Yes. I’m Mr. Onoch.”
Sebastian knew something was wrong with the presence of the troopers at his front door.
The shorter trooper stepped forward and whispered, “Mr. Onoch, can you send your children to their rooms. We need to speak with you privately.”
Sebastian put his head down. “Of course.” He turned to his boys, who were peeking from the staircase. “Boys, please head up to your rooms. I will be up soon.”
Balthazar started, “Dad, why can’t we hear what has happened to Mom?”
Sebastian cut him short in a raised tone. “Balthazar, do not argue! Upstairs, please!” Sebastian stopped himself, realizing his tone. He resumed more calmly. “I will come up and explain everything to you after I have talked with the troopers.”
Caleb held Balthazar’s hand, and they both retreated to Caleb’s room. Caleb and Balthazar sat on the bed, statuesque, waiting for their father.
Sebastian let the troopers into the living room, where they sat quickly.
Sebastian did not waste time. “Where is she? Where is my wife?”
The tall, lanky trooper responded, “Mr. Onoch, your wife was found not far from the lake this afternoon around 2 p.m. She was…”
Sebastian stopped them with his hand. “No! My wife does not go near the lake, let alone the woods, without me. You must have made a mistake. She probably has…” Tears began to well up in his eyes as his quivering voice was working hard to convince them and himself that Dobria was fine.
The short trooper interrupted, “Mr. Onoch, we know it is her. It appears she was taken into the woods and left to pass. Her identification was found not far from…the body. It looked like there had been a struggle at the abandoned car.”
The troopers sat in silence as Sebastian took it all in. The tall trooper added in a quieter, softer tone, “Identification is not necessary. We already have the positive ID.”
Sebastian cleared his throat and wiped his face abruptly, like he was wiping away the memory of what he just heard.
Stoically, Sebastian dismissed the troopers. “Thank you, officers. If you could please leave me with my children now.”
The troopers nodded and let themselves out. Sebastian stood at the foot of the stairs for a moment, looking up toward the bedroom door that held the only remaining union of himself and Dobria. He was contemplating how to tell his boys what has happened.
The month that followed was what would be expected of a family thrown into a tragic loss. Sebastian and the boys
Sebastian lived here, in Georgia, with his wife, Dobria, and their two sons, Caleb and Balthazar. Caleb was the oldest son. He was very athletic, intelligent, a people pleaser, and kind hearted. Balthazar was also intelligent and precocious, but lacked the social intelligence and personality his brother had. Balthazar spent much of his time reading, researching, problem-solving, and studying. They were both very strong-willed children. And they shared one other common thread. They were both starved for Sebastian’s attention, acceptance, and love.
One day Sebastian received a call late in the afternoon. It was the boys’ school. The director said that Dobria did not make it in to pick up the boys and asked if he could come get them. Sebastian picked up the boys and headed home. The entire drive home, Sebastian was in a fog, wondering where Dobria could be. When they arrived home, there was still no sign of Dobria. The house looked undisturbed. Dishes from the morning breakfast were still in the sink. Sebastian paced the floor while the boys ate dinner.
After dark, a knock at the door stopped Sebastian’s pacing. The boys had already prepared for bed. Sebastian rushed to the door. The boys rushed to the stairs in hopes of getting a glimpse of their mother, bright eyed and smiling with open arms.
Two state troopers were standing where Dobria should have been.
“Mr. Onoch?”
Sebastian cleared his throat. “Yes. I’m Mr. Onoch.”
Sebastian knew something was wrong with the presence of the troopers at his front door.
The shorter trooper stepped forward and whispered, “Mr. Onoch, can you send your children to their rooms. We need to speak with you privately.”
Sebastian put his head down. “Of course.” He turned to his boys, who were peeking from the staircase. “Boys, please head up to your rooms. I will be up soon.”
Balthazar started, “Dad, why can’t we hear what has happened to Mom?”
Sebastian cut him short in a raised tone. “Balthazar, do not argue! Upstairs, please!” Sebastian stopped himself, realizing his tone. He resumed more calmly. “I will come up and explain everything to you after I have talked with the troopers.”
Caleb held Balthazar’s hand, and they both retreated to Caleb’s room. Caleb and Balthazar sat on the bed, statuesque, waiting for their father.
Sebastian let the troopers into the living room, where they sat quickly.
Sebastian did not waste time. “Where is she? Where is my wife?”
The tall, lanky trooper responded, “Mr. Onoch, your wife was found not far from the lake this afternoon around 2 p.m. She was…”
Sebastian stopped them with his hand. “No! My wife does not go near the lake, let alone the woods, without me. You must have made a mistake. She probably has…” Tears began to well up in his eyes as his quivering voice was working hard to convince them and himself that Dobria was fine.
The short trooper interrupted, “Mr. Onoch, we know it is her. It appears she was taken into the woods and left to pass. Her identification was found not far from…the body. It looked like there had been a struggle at the abandoned car.”
The troopers sat in silence as Sebastian took it all in. The tall trooper added in a quieter, softer tone, “Identification is not necessary. We already have the positive ID.”
Sebastian cleared his throat and wiped his face abruptly, like he was wiping away the memory of what he just heard.
Stoically, Sebastian dismissed the troopers. “Thank you, officers. If you could please leave me with my children now.”
The troopers nodded and let themselves out. Sebastian stood at the foot of the stairs for a moment, looking up toward the bedroom door that held the only remaining union of himself and Dobria. He was contemplating how to tell his boys what has happened.
The month that followed was what would be expected of a family thrown into a tragic loss. Sebastian and the boys
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