Clarity 4: After the Storm by Loretta Lost Page A

force their decaying corpses to laugh one last
time. This thought gives me a little chill as I gaze down into the
deep ravine to the left of the road.
    When our puppy begins to whimper, I turn to
the side and notice that Winter’s eyes are closed. She looks
deathly pale and completely still. “Winter? Winter!” I shout
frantically. “Wake up! Helen? Dammit, you can't fall asleep now.”
Slamming on the brakes of my car, I reach to the side rapidly and
place two fingers against her neck. I can't feel her pulse for a
few seconds, and I hold my breath in fear. Then I realize that it's
probably because my fingers are half-frozen. I bring my fingers to
just below her nose and check for breathing.
    Nothing. There's nothing.
    Is she... ?
    Then—barely. Just barely, like the flutter
of a butterfly's wings. I exhale anxiously as I place my palm
against her heart to check for a heartbeat. She's weak, but
alive.
    I have to face the truth. I'm not going to
be able to take care of her on my own. She didn’t want me to take
her to a hospital, but I’m going to have to go against her wishes
if I want her to live. There’s a little trail of blood dripping
down her forehead and cheek, and I know that she’s experienced
significant head trauma. This could be a concussion... or worse. I
feel a little jealous at the thought of other doctors being the
ones to help her injuries, but I simply don't have the expertise or
equipment required.
    “Just hang on,” I tell her with a deep
breath as I begin driving again. I simultaneously use my car's GPS
to search for the nearest hospital. “You're going to be fine. I
promise.” When the GPS has finished mapping the route, I realize
that I need to turn sharply to the right in a few seconds. I
tightly grip the steering wheel and slow down to prepare for the
turn.
    As I pick up the pace and drive faster, I
grit my teeth together so tightly that I feel like I could crush
iron between my molars. How did we get here? Just yesterday, things
were fine between us. How did I go and hurt Helen so much that she
ended up risking her life to try and get away from me? Images
course through my mind of all the decisions and indecisions that
led to this point.
    It was my greed. My insatiable ambition and
lust for material things I didn’t need. I let it control me. I can
only pray that my actions haven’t caused me to lose the only woman
I have ever loved.
     
     

Chapter Two

    The day before...
     
    Turning the small velvet box over and over
in my hands, I consider its implications for my future.
    Is this the right time? Is she the right
person? Does she think that I am the right person?
    Would I be a good husband? I work all day
and night, and I’m barely at home, except to sleep. Sometimes, I
even end up doing most of my sleeping here in this miserable
hospital staff room. My few days off are spent recuperating. Would
the long hours eventually upset her and destroy us? But she is a
writer; a special kind of woman who barely notices the passage of
time. She has her nose in a book all day, and hardly ever misses
me. I don’t think I could ever find a partner more independent than
my Winter Rose.
    Helen Winters.
    Even though she prefers to be called by her
pen name, I still call her Helen in my head. Is that dishonest? Is
it just another one of the secrets and lies I keep bottled up that
will eventually kill our relationship? I usually don’t worry so
much, but when this little ring box is in my hand, all my fear and
anxiety boils up to the surface.
    “Just propose already, Liam,” says a female
doctor with a groan.
    I look up in surprise; I hadn’t even heard
her enter the break room.
    Dr. Jennifer Keating smirks at me. “Better
finish your coffee, kid. You’re gonna need it in an hour or two.”
She pops open her own can of soda and begins chugging the
contents.
    “Thanks, Jen,” I mumble, reaching for my
half-empty coffee cup. I take a large gulp of the cold, bitter
beverage, and make a face of