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Prologue
Zane
Ten years ago…
When I step out of the shower, the sun is starting to shine through the bedroom curtains as I grab the towel. My wife, Laura, is sitting cross-legged at the edge of the bed wearing her favorite sky blue dress. The morning sun cascades through the window, catching the sapphire necklace resting on her chest and reflecting off her deep brown eyes. She is beautiful and every day I thank my lucky stars she chooses me to share her life with. I vow never to break the promise to love, honor, and protect her.
She offers her hand, and I grasp it. Without a word, I pull her up and into my arms. She trembles as the reality of a lawyer’s life and strenuous schedules sink in. Uncertainty lines her face, so I kiss her forehead as if that can make all her worries go away. We stay like that for a few moments until she takes a deep breath and steps away from me. Today is my first day at a new firm, and she is worried about their expectations. As a lawyer, it came with never-ending hours, assignments, and pressure.
I run my fingers through her long, chestnut hair as I whisper comforting words. “Everything will be alright, we can do this,” I say, looking into her eyes and seeing a spark of determination that matches my own. “Taking this job is going to secure our future. Don’t you want our kids to be provided for? The best life possible? This job is our ticket to that.”
Laura and I grew up in poverty, and we made a promise that our children will never know the same. This job means more than just a salary; it means that we can finally provide and protect our future family. The salary they are offering is three times what anyone else will pay. I can see the respect in their eyes when they hear my ideas, and they acknowledge my dedication to the job.
With this new position, we can start a family, something we have been putting off until the right time. Laura wants nothing more than to be a mother. If I have to work my ass off, day in and day out, for her dreams to come true, to provide for my family, I will. I want to give her the world.
She pulls away and looks up at me, her face pale and her eyes glistening with tears. “I know.”
I hold her, savoring the moment, but I have to go.
“Good luck today,” she says as she steps back and wipes away the tears from her cheeks. “I’m sure you’re going to do great.”
I smile and grab my briefcase, leaving the bedroom. My shift starts at eight o’clock and it is already after seven. Time is of the essence. Nearly tripping over my feet, I scramble down the stairs. Laura leaves me a quick breakfast burrito on the counter, and I pour a cup of coffee.
Two hours later, I am sitting at my new desk, flipping through some paperwork and trying to get comfortable when I hear a distinct double-knock at the door. I look up to see two police officers standing in the doorway. My stomach drops and a chill runs down my spine. What are they doing here?
I wave them in, standing up behind my desk. “Can I help you, gentleman?”
“Are you Mr. Donnelly?” one officer asks.
I nod, my throat dry. Why are they looking for me?
“Uh - your wife, Laura, was in a car accident on the interstate this morning.”
My throat goes dry. “Is she okay?” I ask, grabbing my jacket and putting it on. “Which hospital do I need to go to?”
The officers look at each other. “I’m sorry, but she didn’t make it.”
My world crumbles. Shock, disbelief, grief. All of it overcomes me in an instant. My legs buckle, so I grab the edge of the desk for support. The officers are talking, but their words are muffled.
“Wait, what do you mean she didn’t make it? My wife is fine... take me to her.”
The younger officer shakes his head. “She passed before we were on scene, sir.”
They apprehended the other driver and took them into custody. I sit in silence, numb from the shock. I know what I have to do, yet my mind refuses to comprehend it.
I stumble out of my office and down the hallway. The stares of everyone I pass dig into my skin, but I can’t bring myself to care.
When I get home, I go straight to the bedroom, sinking into the floor, my head in my hands, and let out a helpless sob. I have lost the one thing that mattered most to me.
The next few days are a blur. I go through the motions of life, but nothing feels real. I want to cry and scream and yell, but I feel like someone has torn my heart out of my chest. I just want to feel her touch and hear her voice.But she is gone. All I have are the memories of our life together and the burning pain in my chest that never seems to go away.
The legal proceedings against the driver who killed my wife drag on for months. I attend every single hearing, making sure he will face consequences for what he did. My lawyer informs me he will be charged with manslaughter, but I want to make sure he understands the gravity of what he has done.
I watch as the jury deliberates and then finds him guilty. The judge sentences him to ten years in prison and orders him to pay a hefty fine. But no amount of money or jail time can bring back my wife.
The days after her death are the hardest of my life. Even though I have been through many losses before, this one is different. Before we could start a family and experience all of life's moments together, he took her away from me.
My friends and family try their best to help me cope with the tragedy, but nothing seems to ease my pain. I throw myself into my work, using it as an escape from reality. It keeps my mind occupied, but it also keeps me distant from others who care about me.
