goodbye
Kronk was having a great day. He decided it was finally the day to ask Lottie to marry him. He had been planning it for days and couldn’t wait until dinner that night. He was working hard at the restaurant to get everything done so he could go get ready for the big night. He couldn’t be happier…..
Suddenly, everything went wrong. There was a phone call. That was odd, people rarely called the restaurant this early. Tia was out with Lottie, so it was Just Naveen and Kronk doing the prep work. Naveen ran to get it, answering cheerfully. His face quickly fell and became ashen as he listed to whoever was on the other line. From across the kitchen Kronk could hear the wailing and the sirens. He hurried over to Naveen, a questioning look in his eyes.
Naveen hung up the phone and looked at Kronk with tears already forming. “Kronk…. there’s… there’s been a terrible accident… Carlotta… Charlotte…. she was driving with Tiana… and…” he couldn’t even finish. Kronk’s heart stopped. No… it..it can’t be… Kronk’s eyes shone with the tears building up. “Where Naveen? Where is she?” Naveen told him. No sooner was the location out of his mouth then Kronk was running out the door.
Kronk tried to focus on his breathing and the sound of his sandals hitting the pavement. Anything to keep him from thinking the worst. He turned th corner and saw the smoke, saw the ambulances, saw the cars and saw the blood. He ran for Tiana who, except for a cut on her forehead and some bruising, was unharmed. It was she who had phoned the restaurant to let them know what had happened. She was sobbing and holding Lottie’s hand with her head in her lap.
Kronk rushed to where Lottie was laying, looking broken and pale in the pool of her own blood. She was still alive, but barely. Tiana looked up at him and helped move her into his arms. Kronk cradled her close. She was so cold, and her breath was coming in sharp, pained gasps. “K-k-kronk?” she said weakly, reaching out a hand to touch his cheek with her failing strength. Kronk grabbed it and held it to his face, where it caught the tears that were streaming down his face. “I’m here, Lottie… I-I’m here.” he could hardly choke down the sob. She tried to smile at him, but the pain was too great. It came out as more of a grimace. “I-I l-l-love you…” she whispered as the last of her breath escaped from her lungs. Her hands became limp in his grasp. Kronk lost it. He collapsed over her body, holding it close as he sobbed for Lottie, the girl he had loved and too soon lost. He felt a hand on his back and looked up to see Naveen who had arrived shortly after he did. “C’mon Kronk.” he said, trying to sound brave. “Let her go. She’s beyond us now, and we must get back home.” Kronk reluctantly let the medics take her body away from him, but not before he could give her one last kiss.
“Goodbye, Lottie” he whispered, “I will always love you and you will always be first in my heart.”