And the sudden strike.
His breathing changed.
He closed his eyes.
Then took a slow breath.
He had learned not to fight every memory.
Some returned unexpectedly.
Others faded when he allowed himself to remember that the danger was no longer present.
He opened his eyes.
The street was quiet.
The deputy was gone.
And the mower belonged to him.
Marcus checked the equipment.
Then started the engine.
The familiar rumble filled the driveway.
He smiled faintly.
For a moment, he stood listening.
Then he began mowing.
One straight line.
Then another.
The grass was slightly longer near the fence, and the mower worked harder as he guided it through the thicker section.
Marcus adjusted his pace.
The engine continued running smoothly.
A few minutes later, the front door opened.
He turned instinctively.
For one brief second, his heart raced.
Then he saw his father.
Daniel stood on the porch wearing ordinary jeans, a faded polo shirt, and comfortable shoes.
No tan uniform.
No gold badge.
No duty belt.
Just a retired father watching his son mow the lawn.
Marcus switched off the mower.
His father smiled.
“Need help?”
Marcus laughed.
“Since when do you volunteer for yard work?”
Daniel grinned.
“I'm retired.”
“That means you have even more excuses.”
His father laughed.
Then descended the steps.
For a moment, the two men stood beside the red machine.
Daniel looked toward the street.
Then toward the grass.
His expression softened.
“You all right?”
Marcus considered the question.
He looked toward the spot where he'd been pinned down.
For a moment, the memory remained painfully clear.
Then he nodded.
“Yes.”
Daniel studied him.
“Really?”
Marcus smiled sadly.
“Not because I forgot.”
His father nodded.
“I know.”
Marcus took a breath.
“Because I can stand here now without thinking the whole neighborhood belongs to the person with the badge.”
Daniel's eyes filled.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then his son continued.
“I know something bad happened here.”
He looked toward the lawnmower.
“But other things happened here too.”
Daniel listened.
Marcus smiled.
“You taught me to ride a bike in this driveway.”
His father nodded.
“I remember.”
“Mom taught me how to plant tomatoes beside the fence.”
“Yes.”
“And I repaired my first engine right over there.”
Daniel laughed softly.
“You took apart my leaf blower and couldn't put it back together.”
Marcus grinned.
“Eventually I did.”
“Three weeks later.”
They laughed.
For a moment, the years seemed to fold together.
The frightened young man on the grass.
The little boy learning to ride a bicycle.
The engineering graduate repairing a mower.
And the adult standing beside his retired father.