THE CHOICE

TWELVE

JACK REMEMBERED THAT DAY AS if it were only yesterday.

The afternoon June sun beamed down on them, but it wasn't hot enough yet to be unpleasant. The trees were the perfect shade of green, contrasted against the royal azure sky, painted across with white cotton ball clouds. He held the hands of his soon-to-be-bride and gazed into her eyes with the light breeze wafting earthy scents of dirt, wood, and grass around his face.

The minister broke into one of the most important parts of the ceremony, "Do you, Jack Oliver Thompson, take this woman, Madison Paige Wilson, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Jack lost himself in her eyes as the minister continued about loving her for better or worse, in sickness and health, in abundance and poverty, and Jack wanted to shout "YES" to all those scenarios. He loved Madison like no other. Would never dream of seeing himself with anyone else. And had proven his feelings for her (as unintentional as it was) when he saw her walk down the aisle toward him and tears of happiness and wonder free-fell from his eyes, dug trenches down his dry cheeks, and dripped lovingly on the lapels of his tuxedo jacket.

But there were only two words that Jack was required to say in this moment-two words that would sum up the entirety of his feelings and the promises he was making "before God and these assembled witnesses", and when the minister uttered the words as long as you both shall live, Jack spoke with all the love and sincerity his heart could muster.

"I do."

Now, he found himself once again looking into Madison's eyes. Only this time it wasn't love and adoration he saw gazing back at him, but fear, uncertainty, and finally, concession.

"Shoot me, Jack", Madison said.

"What?" he returned, unbelieving and appalled at such an idea.

"Shoot me!"

Jack shook his head. "I can't shoot you!"

"There's no other way!" she said. "If you have to choose between me or Connor, choose me. Let our son live. You and Connor can go on without m..."

"No, I can't!" he interrupted.

She looked at him with a seriousness so profound it pierced through every fiber of his being. "Then give me the gun and let me shoot myself. I won't let you kill our son."