Cracks Within

Chapter 16

Tuesday 9th October 2040.

I wake up in Marshalls arms. I unlace my hand from his and feel the tears on my face. I silently move out of his embrace and kneel on the floor, feeling for the wooden box under the bed.

"Yes!" I whisper to myself as my fingers wrap around the edge of the box. I pull it and the box is right in front of me. I take a deep breath and unlock it using the key that's always on my necklace. Opening the box, a huge wave of sadness washes over me. Lees face stares up from me, his smile etched on his face forever. I pick it up and kiss it, tears falling thick and fast. Underneath the photo, Lees funeral programme lays there, forgotten. I carefully hold it up and read the paragraph underneath his picture:

LEE ARTHUR JONES (BORN 8TH JANUARY 1995)

LEE WAS AN AMAZING MAN WHO HAD MANY THAT

ADORED HIM. HIS HUSBAND JOSH JONES WOULD LIKE

EVERYONE TO REMEMBER LEE FOR THE INCREDIBLE

FRIEND, HUSBAND AND FATHER THAT HE WAS. JOSH WOULD

LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TO

HONOUR LEE AND TO PLEASE REMEMBER HIM

AS HE WAS.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRIVE CAREFULLY

AND CAUTIOUSLY AND LOOK OUT FOR OTHER CARS ON

THE ROAD. JOSH HAS SET UP THE CHARITY

"DRIVE CARFU-LEE" WHICH HELPS SURVIVORS

OF CAR ACCIDENTS FINANCIALLY, SPIRITUALLY

AND WITH REHALIBITATION. JOSH ASKS THAT

INSTEAD OF BUYING GIFTS FOR THE FAMILY, TO PLEASE

DONATE TO 'DRIVE CAREFU-LEE' TO RAISE

AWARENESS OF DANGEROUS DRIVING.

THANK YOU.

WE LOVE YOU LEE.

I trace the embossment on Lees name. I carry on looking through the box, clutching onto the photo and the memorial programme. Suddenly, I drop the items I was holding. I still have it. I pick up the delicate chain. A small, silver 'A' dangles, a single diamond in the middle shining in the darkness. Rage clouds my mind as I punch the wall.

"Why did you leave me? Why did you have to be on your way to mine when that drunk driver hit you?! WHY?!" I violently whisper.

"Anna?" Marshall says quietly." I hear the bed moan as he moves onto the floor next to me. "Baby, tell me what's wrong. Please, tell me."

"Just my old friend. My best friend. He was amazing. He died on 11th February 2027, on his way to see me. I wanted to tell him that I had decided to adopt a little boy- Mike- and he was coming home in three weeks. He was so excited to meet his godson. He even bought him a birthday card and present; a teddy personalised with his date of birth. He was born the week before and Lee was mad that I didn't tell him. Said he felt like 'the worst godfather in the world, you gotta let me know these things, it's my duty!'. On the way, a drunk driver hit him from the side. He died instantaneously."

Marshall lifts my head and kisses my cheeks. "It's okay, I'm here baby, come here. Please, come into my arms. Please, Anna."

I collapse against him, crying. "I have so much to do. I need him right now."

His breath is warm on my cheek. "You have me. I'm here for you."

"I have to go through a divorce, you can't be here for me."