The hospital called Skyler Everlow's phone 20 hours ago to inform him that his girlfriend had passed away in a nasty car accident on Interstate 86 due to injury to her head. He had seen her dead, wrangled body in the hospital, raspy breathing, gasping for air until it stopped altogether.
If she was dead, why was she eating dinner with his parents right now?
***
Skyler Everlow's life was flipped upside down when his girlfriend, Natalia, was severely injured in a car accident. He was there in her last moments, he held her hand when she died. He watched her die, and there was nothing he could do.
However, his whole world was flipped upside down once again when he saw her eating dinner with his parents, perfectly well and happy.
Turns out, a mistake had been made in the afterlife and she wasn't supposed to die. Something was keeping her on Earth, and she refused to pass onto the afterlife until Skyler would go with her.
***
Open Novella Contest 2022, Prompt 68
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
***
Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.