BIPOLAR

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Pain

   Sarah Watkins stared out the car window, the blurred landscape a reflection of her own fragmented thoughts. The GPS announced their arrival, and her husband, Juke, turned into the cozy bed-and-breakfast. Their annual family vacation had finally begun.

   As they settled into their room, Sarah's mind began to wander. The past year had been a struggle. Her bipolar disorder, once managed, had started to resurface. The medication adjustments, therapy sessions, and constant monitoring had become overwhelming.

   "Hey, you okay?" Juke asked, noticing her distant gaze.

   Sarah forced a smile. "Just tired. Need some fresh air."

   Their children, Jamin, Lisa, and Favour, burst into the room, excitedly chattering about the nearby beach. Sarah's heart swelled with love, but the anxiety lingered, a constant companion.

   It was because of her disorder that her life was in shambles. She served as one of the top detectives in the country for near a decade but when the effects of the disorder began to slowly start she was asked to step down. But she refused, she thought she could handle it and she did for some time until a fate had finally reached her.

   While on a case her disorder kicked in which led to the death of a young woman. Her name was Tamani, Tamani was kidnapped and being held captive in an abandoned building. Sarah was given the case and because of her great deduction skills despite having the bipolar disorder she managed to find her in time.

   While there Sarah found herself in a dire situation that needed strategic planning but her disorder kicked in and she accidentally shot Tamani in her leg which caused her to stumble and fall out of a window to her untimely demise. Sarah then understood what her disorder led her to do and instantly regretted it. She steeped down of her own accord and started a family.

   Her bipolar disorder caused her to have poor memory so to prevent that each day she would write down key things that happened to her, what she had seen or what she would like to remember, Sarah read those notes each morning in order to keep her memory fresh. As time went on Sarah's condition worsened and she was advised to see a therapist and doctor to seek medication. It stabilized her for some time but the intensity of the medication began to increare to account for her ever worsening condition.

   Sarah accepted her fate and choose to live with it. She lives with in a beautiful house, with three lovely kids.

   Jamin, a 17-year-old boy with a stellar mental capacity. His grades were outstanding and he always maintained a 4.0 GPA, his IQ was above 160 and he was a genius with computers and science. But Jamin suffered from a disease that hindered his athleticism though he did not care about it he still participated in different sports. He was definitely the Master Of All Trades.

   Her second child, Lisa a 14-year-old girl was also a stellar student and highly creative. The same can be said for her other daughter favour. Favour, who is 12 years old, was very athletic and participated in various sports. Her children were all bright and very determined like their mother.

    Her husband Juke was supportive and thoughtful. He always made sure that Sarah enjoyed herself and constantly felt the love of her family. Juke is a criminal lawyer and he always dealed with very vexatious cases even though Sarah did not like it He still managed to please her in different ways. Juke setup a family vacation to Greenland so that they could relieve the stress they carried.

    Booked a small guest house that was in view of the aurora borealis and a beautiful river. That evening, as they strolled along the river bank, Sarah's phone buzzed with an unknown number. She ignored it, focusing on the beautiful sunset, she looked at her kids who were playing in the water and her husband who was playing music with his violin. Juke was a skilled violinist, his hands were gentle and soft as he guided the blade through the strings. Sarah was always impressed by it, the whole view gave her a feeling of peace and euphoria.

    The warm sunlight filtering through the kitchen windows cast a cozy glow on the Watkins family dinner. Sarah's cooking filled the air with savory aromas, and the children's laughter echoed through the room. Juke smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, as he helped the kids with their games.

   After dinner, Sarah began to clear the table, feeling a sense of contentment wash over her. The river outing and family time had been a much-needed respite from her struggles.

   As the evening drew to a close, Sarah bid the children goodnight and retreated to her bedroom, exhausted. Juke followed, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle hug.

   "I love you, Sar," he whispered.

   "I love you too," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

   Sarah drifted off to sleep, lulled by Juke's soothing presence.

   Sarah's eyes snapped open to an eerie silence. The room was bathed in an unsettling stillness. She reached out, her hand brushing against Juke side.

   Her fingers touched something cold.

   Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she sat up, her gaze falling upon Jukes lifeless body. His eyes, once bright and full of love, stared blankly into the darkness.

   A scream lodged in her throat as she shook Juke, pleading for him to wake up. But his body remained limp, his skin pale.

   The world around Sarah shattered.