» The Hopper Legacy Chapter 1.7 - A Visit From Death

That winter was a busy time for the Hoppers. Beatrice, Lizette, and Odin all had birthdays, and the young family would also celebrate their first Christmas together.

Beatrice’s birthday was the first major event that season. She grew into an adorable and inquisitive toddler. Because her birthday came so soon after their move and just weeks before Christmas, the family chose to have a low-key celebration at home.

Lizette’s birthday came next. The Hoppers opted not to have a full-blown party for her, either, but Ava baked a cake and they celebrated with a delicious home-cooked meal prepared by Odin.

Lizette grew into a lovely young lady. Her parents were thrilled and also saddened, wishing they could keep their girls little forever.

It had been months since Ava and Odin had seen their friends due to the moving process and their busy schedules. They decided to throw an adults-only Christmas party to exchange gifts and have some fun.

The Hoppers invited several of their friends, many of whom they had not seen in quite some time. They were happy to finally have a house big enough to entertain guests.

Ava and Odin were having a wonderful time at the party. They loved Christmastime and being surrounded by friends, and they couldn’t get enough of each other. They slow danced for a long time, but were interrupted by a groan that came from across the room.

Lucille Spenster, the sister of Odin’s longtime friend Nellie, didn’t look so good.

It wasn’t until she stood up that the Hoppers had a shocking realization: Lucille had died on their couch!

The next moment, Death himself appeared in their home.

Ava, Odin, and the rest of the guests looked on in horror as Death took Lucille away. Nellie left with her sister’s remains, wailing in a way the Hoppers would never forget.

Though the sudden death had been unsettling for everyone, Odin took it the hardest. It wasn’t that he missed Lucille- he’d hardly known the woman. It wasn’t entirely about having sympathy for Nellie’s loss either. Though he thought of her as a mother-figure and was sorry for her loss, he knew that she would be able to move past the death of her sister, who had been quite old and frail. The biggest reason Odin was shaken was that the experience had reminded him of his own mortality, since Death had quite literally stood a few feet from him.

The abject horror that he felt at the thought of his own inevitable demise combined with his upcoming 40th birthday was too much for him to handle. He demanded that Ava and the kids ignore his birthday and pretend it was just a normal day. He didn’t even want one of Ava’s delicious homemade cakes.

After aging up, he promptly spiraled into a midlife crisis. He dreamed of divorcing Ava and running away from the kids. His family was his anchor; he had always appreciated that fact but now he felt the full weight of them. He wanted to cut his ties with everyone he loved so he could live recklessly and irresponsibly, ignoring the fears he now felt so strongly.

He and Ava began fighting frequently. He was unhappy and terrified, unsure of whether he could really bring himself to leave her. Ava knew that her husband was in pain but she was unable to help him. She realized that Odin had to overcome some demons on his own, but she really hoped that he would get his act together fast. She needed him to be okay and to prove that he was committed to their family. She needed this more than he could understand.

Ava needed him because she had once again found herself pregnant.