authorrebeccaclark
Patric Sullivan, age twenty-four, is a man existing in the shadow of a life that ended on a rain-slicked highway. Six months ago, a car accident claimed the life of his girlfriend, Ciara Horn, leaving Patric with survivor's guilt and a world that feels permanently dimmed. Patric is disabled and has a limp and uses a cane as part of his mobility disability.
He follows a rigid, joyless routine, visiting the crash site weekly and avoiding anything that reminds him of the future they had planned. The inciting incident occurs when Patric meets Elara Disher, a vibrant artist whose presence disrupts his carefully maintained misery. Initially, Patric resists her, viewing any spark of happiness as a betrayal of Ciara's memory. However, a shared project-forces them together, and Elara's patience begins to soften his defenses.
As their connection deepens, Patric faces a "moment of transference." During a particularly intimate night, he momentarily sees Ciara's features in Elara, leading to an emotional breakdown that nearly severs his new relationship.
Patric must decide if he is using Elara as a placeholder or if he is truly ready to love again. Patric finally visits Ciara's parents. He realizes that grief is not a debt he must pay forever, but a part of his history that can coexist with a new future. In the resolution, Patric chooses to commit to Elara, not by forgetting Ciara, but by integrating her memory into a life that finally has room for joy again. He stops visiting the crash site, symbolic of his transition from "surviving" to "living."
If anyone who sees this story being plagiarized by someone else, please send me a quick message as soon as possible. I do not tolerate plagiarism at all, and I will sue whoever is responsible of stealing my work.
©️2026 Rebecca Clark. All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior permission of the author, except for the brief description of the book in a book review.