text: "Please just try to get here. The kids are asking what's going on and I don't want to tell them alone." "I'm trying, my love. I made it out of the city before the warning went live, I should be there in the next 20 minutes. I love you." "I love you too." So many things were going through his mind. There was so much he wanted to accomplish. So many places he wanted to see. Now, all he wanted was to be home with his family. Driving never seemed to go by so slowly. Every mile felt like a hundred and the surrounding were just a blur. He had driven these roads countless times and auto pilot had fully taken over. The only thoughts going through his head were the stories his father used to tell him. "Son, there is a gift that our family is blessed with. Once, and only once, we can freeze everything around us. Time will stand still for all but us. We are free to move and free to think, but eventually it must end and return to normal. Many in our family have decided to forget about the gift entirely but it is my responsibility to tell you that this power is innately yours, should you choose to use it." As a child he asked, "Did you use yours father?" Smiling his father said, "I did my son." "What did you do?" A tear formed in his eye as he said, "I extended the happiest moment of my life. I will say no more than that." Shivers ran through the man as he turned his focus back to driving. He was entering the neighborhood which was full of frantic activity. People loading cars, others breaking down outside, some already catatonic in acceptance of the inevitable. Trying to ignore the horror of awareness on peoples faces, he took the final turn before coming up to his home. His wife ran out to greet him and embraced him in a deep hug, tears in her eyes. "I thought you weren't going to make it, I thought I would never see you again." "I'm here. I'm so sorry. Where are the children?" "Inside. I had to tell Simon, but Tucker and Lucy don't know. Simon is helping me keep them calm, but I don't know if it's really sunk in yet." "Ok, let's go inside." Tears freely flowing, his wife followed him as he entered their house and went to find their kids. "Daddy!" Lucy was the first to greet her father. He had always loved his daughter with a fierce love that could only be matched by the love he had for his wife. His sons he loved equally but his daughter was a much more jealous love. He would stay with her in his arms forever if she let him. "Hello princess! I'm so glad to see you!" Tears began forming in his eyes. "Daddy why are you crying?" she said touching her small hands to his face. Wiping the tears away he said, "Nothing sweetheart. I just am so glad to see you. Where are your brothers?" "They are outside looking through the telescope." "Well let's go find them. I have something I need to tell all of you." "Okay" Leading her father by the hand, she took him outside to her brothers, his wife following closely behind holding his other hand. "Dad!" The boys said in unison. Both rushing over to embrace their father. Simon was looking at his father with a knowing stare. A frantic pleading to his eyes that was never there before. It made him feel sick. "Lets sit down, your mother and I have something we want to tell you." He checked his watch before sitting down and looked at his wife, who gave him a small nod. It was 12:37, they had 4 minutes. "Simon, Tucker, Lucy, there is something I need to tell you. Something has happened. We are going to have to leave here soon. I'm not sure where we are going, but whatever happens just relax and wait for us to come get you. Your mother and I *will* come and find you. No matter how long it takes, we will find you. Simon began crying. Trying to console his eldest he said, "It's ok Son, I need you to be brave for your brother and sister. We are all here and anything that happens we will face it together." Sniffling, Simon said, "o-okay." "Your mother and I love you all so much. A father could not ask for a more beautiful daughter, or more brave sons. We only have a short time but I wanted you to know that whatever happens, your mother and I love you more than anything." He looked to his wife, who was still crying and embraced her in a kiss. The salt from her tears was all he could taste but he didn't notice anything but the softness of her lips and the fullness in his heart of the love for her. "Come here you guys." Wrapping his arms around all of them he checked his watch once again, 12:40, it was nearly time. He turned to his wife and set his head against hers, "carry them, I will meet you there." With those words, he froze time. He broke down for the first few moments. Crying for his family and what he knew he had to do. The sobs were so deep it made his body ache, and he lay on the ground in despair. Knowing that he had to save his family from the terror he must face, he pulled out the gun from his belt. Time unfroze and he saw their bodies beside him, still embracing one another. His sorrow was beyond words, and his grief too immense to measure. Crying and grieving, he looked up as the asteroid began to descend. He first felt the heat, the unbearable heat. Clutching his head everything became blurry and his hearing was only a loud hum that was growing until deafening. Screaming from the heat and pain, he dropped to his knees and the last thing he saw was darkness closing in.