Falling Out Of Bed

Falling Out Of Bed
Mary Schramski

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! LIFE IS HAPPENING WHILE YOU SLEEP…Melinda had never questioned her perfect life. Why should she? Her husband's successful, she's not working for the first time in years and their only daughter is in college. Her father–a workaholic, perfectionist, runner and health nut to boot–is happy and healthy, too.Or so Melinda thought until her father quite literally falls out of bed. Suddenly her formerly robust parent is in jeopardy, and their roles are reversed. Melinda's life changes in the blink of an eye.But with the changes, unexpected blessings come her way, too. Because as she and her father bond, Melinda realizes she's been sleeping through life–and starts discovering what really matters….

“Dad,” I finally said.

He turned around and his expression was a study in wonder. He gestured to the world outside. “You know, life is really beautiful.”

I went over to the window, stood next to him. More light flooded the room, us, the yard.

“It is, isn’t it?”

“I’d forgotten how really wonderful life is.”

“Most mornings I come out here and take a few minutes to enjoy it.”

“You’re a smart girl.” He stared at me for a moment. “I was just thinking how much I’ve missed. I was always working.” He sighs. “Trying to make buildings perfect.” He glances out to the yard again. “But life doesn’t have to be perfect, does it?”

“Maybe our flaws are beautiful, too.” I think about this, hope it’s true, feel good that we’re talking. We both stare at the yard and, suddenly, it turns bright with sunlight.

Mary Schramski

Mary Schramski began writing when she was about ten. The first story she wrote took place at a junior high school. Her mother told her it was good, so she immediately threw it away. She read F. Scott Fitzgerald at eleven, fell in love with storytelling and decided to teach English. She holds a Ph.D in creative writing and enjoys teaching and encouraging other writers. She lives in Nevada with her husband, and her daughter who lives close by. Visit Mary’s Web site at www.maryschramski.com.

Falling Out of Bed

Mary Schramski

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

From the Author

Dear Reader,

The idea for Falling Out of Bed came to me through a conversation with a dear friend. Over cups of tea we talked about what we thought to be important in our lives, and how those ideals guide us. After our conversation, I began imagining a character struggling with what she believed in and how her family might help her evolve. Melinda is the brave protagonist in Falling Out of Bed, the one who learns about love, hope and believing in things she cannot explain.

Sincerely,

Mary Schramski

www.maryschramski.com

To you, the reader

If winter comes, can spring be far behind?

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

Even the seasons form a great circle in their

changing, and always come back again to where

they were. The life of a man [woman] is a circle

from childhood to childhood and so it is in

everything where power moves.

—Black Elk

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN