Because of the Accident (Book 1)

Chapter 3

As we stepped out into the cold, rainy fall night, the silence between us was thick and uncomfortable. What could I even say? I was tagging along with a complete stranger—Lia, the bartender who had saved me from making even more of a mess of my night. The awkwardness weighed heavy, especially since I was too drunk to pick up my own daughter, the daughter I had with Autumn—my wife, who was no longer alive. Every step I took felt heavier, like I was walking through thick mud, dragging my mistakes behind me.

We said nothing, and I knew she was probably trying to figure out how she'd ended up responsible for some random drunk guy. I wasn't even sure myself. But going home wasn't an option. And there was no way I could pick up the baby in this state.

"WATCH OUT!" Lia's voice sliced through my foggy thoughts just as her hands shoved me hard. I stumbled back, narrowly avoiding a speeding car that whipped by us, its tires spraying cold rainwater into the air. The driver didn't even slow down, the red taillights fading into the distance.

"You need to watch where you're going!" she yelled, grabbing my jacket to steady me. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

I blinked, not fully comprehending how close I'd just come to getting flattened. "Actually," I muttered, stepping back into the street like an idiot, arms spread wide, "that doesn't sound like a terrible idea right now."

Lia's face was a mix of concern and annoyance as she tugged me back to the sidewalk. "Don't be stupid. Dying in the street is not the solution to whatever's going on in your head."

I tried to laugh, but it came out slurred. "I was trying to save you from something, I think," I mumbled, not even sure what I meant. "Or maybe... the world."

"Save me?" She rolled her eyes, guiding me toward her car. "You're a mess."

"Shhh," I said, holding a finger to my lips as if I was sharing a secret. "You hear that? That's the sound of... a nagging woman." I burst out laughing at my own stupid joke.

Lia shot me a look that said, You're an idiot, but there was a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Get in the car before you get yourself killed for real."

I hesitated, leaning against the passenger door for a moment, letting the rain wash over me. "Are you sure you're not some kind of psycho? This could be a setup, you know. Maybe you're a serial killer."

"If I was," she replied with a smirk, "you'd already be dead. Now get in before I change my mind."

I clambered into the passenger seat, the warmth of the car immediately soothing the shivers that had started to creep in. As I sat there, something caught my eye. An obituary was tucked into the sun visor above me, and I instinctively reached up, tracing my finger along the edge of the woman's face printed in black and white. She looked... peaceful. And suddenly, I couldn't help but think of Autumn. What will her obituary say?

"That's my mom," Lia said softly, her voice pulling me back to the present. She glanced over at me, her expression unreadable.

"Oh," I mumbled, not sure what to say. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"She died a few months ago," Lia continued, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. "We weren't that close. Still... it's weird not having her around anymore."

I swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. "I get it," I said finally. "I lost someone too. Recently."

She nodded, but didn't say anything else. The car fell silent again as she pulled out of the parking lot, and I stared out the window, watching the rain blur the city lights. The world outside felt distant, like I was in a bubble, separated from everything that had once felt real. Autumn's death was still so fresh, and yet here I was, riding in some stranger's car, running from the wreckage of my life.