Violet Skies ~ An In This Moment Fan Fiction

~Prologue~

I finally did it. I finally accomplished a lifelong dream. Ever since I was a little girl, my dream was to be a published book author. I went through years of college. I got my bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Communications. I had the urge to keep going and with the encouragement of my family, I earned another scholarship for a master's program at the same University. I kept my major as English but changed my minor to Linguistics. Even though being an author was my dream, my dad always encouraged me to have a backup plan.

Always finding other languages intriguing, I figured Linguistics would be a good thing. I already had Spanish, French and Latin taken care of thanks to high school and my Bachelor's degree. My boyfriend of four years, Brock, proposed and I said yes. Halfway through my Master's program, we discovered I was pregnant. My parents weren't too pleased that I got pregnant before we got married, but they were still happy. I told them I wasn't planning a wedding until after I finished my master's, and they respected my decision.

During my last semester of my master's program, I gave birth to my daughter, Stevie Elizabeth. I named her after two of my favorite all time singers, Stevie Nicks and Liz Phair. Brock didn't care what I named her. She stole his heart. Sometimes I felt like he loved her more than me. I knew he loved me so honestly, I didn't mind. Even after having Stevie, I finished my master's degree.

My advisor called me into his office the week before graduation to speak with me. He offered me a position on his staff and encouraged me to move forward with the Doctorate program. That had never crossed my mind. I asked him to let me think about it. I went home and discussed it with Brock. He encouraged me to go for it. By working at the University, my classes would be free.

We put off getting married. I was fine with that. He was fine with that. He was working full-time for a prestigious law firm in our state's capital. He was traveling back and forth to work part time. I was teaching and working on my Doctorate in English and Linguistics. Those other languages came naturally to me. Dr. Franklin had never seen anyone pick up foreign languages like I had.

Then my world came crashing down...

Brock was in a horrible wreck coming home one night. He was unconscious and not good. My mom came to stay with Stevie so I could go to the hospital. The doctor was honest with me and told me it didn't look good at all. His lungs were collapsed, both of his legs were broken, several broken ribs and if he did pull through, there was a possibility he would be paralyzed. My heart sunk. I was devastated.

As I sat at his bedside, his phone began ringing. Not even thinking about it, I just answered it.

"Hello?"

"Who is this," the female voice asked.

"This is Brock's fiancée, Iris. May I ask who I'm speaking with?"

"This is his girlfriend, Ashley," she said hatefully. "I didn't know he had a fiancée!"

"Sweetheart, we've been engaged for five years and have a daughter."

"What?!"

"How long have you been seeing my fiancé, Ashley?"

"Over a year!"

"I am so sorry Brock did that to you, Ashley. Please don't call this number again."

"I want to talk to him right now!"

"That's impossible."

"Why is that bitch?!"

"Because," I said calmly. "Brock was in a car wreck coming home to us and he may not make it out of the hospital. Like I said, do not call this number again."