The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“I’m so sorry for your loss. Try to stay strong,” said Dr. Mike, the attending physician.

He was also my husband’s best friend since college.

I touched my face–smooth and unblemished.

In my previous life, the HIV had left it covered in lesions.

There was no doubt now–I’d been given a second chance.

My husband, Dave, lay motionless on the hospital bed, covered by a white sheet.

I burst into tears and rushed over to yank it off.

“You idiot! How many times did I tell you to lay off the bourbon?”

“But you never listened! Now you’re gone, and I’m left picking up the pieces.”

“How am I supposed to go on?”

I slapped his face repeatedly, watching the color rise in his cheeks.

He must have been sedated–paralyzed but conscious.

Seeing Dave’s face flush red, Dr. Mike quickly stepped between us.

After all, corpses don’t blush.

“Hey, hey, take it easy,” Dr. Mike said, blocking my access to the “body.”

“I know you’re grieving, but this isn’t helping anyone.”

Dr. Mike was in on it. He was the lynchpin of this whole scam–the attending who’d pronounced Dave dead and signed the death certificate.

“Some doctor you are,” I spat, pounding on his chest.

Chapter 1

“You couldn’t even save your best friend. How do you sleep at night?”

Dr. Mike winced in pain. “I did everything I could-”

“Liar!” I cut him off, shoving him backward.

bastard had been in on it the whole

Dave’s “death” had left me drowning in medical

well–helping Dave fake his death and making sure I was

suffer.

at your frat initiation,”

no matter what. Was that just bullshit?”

he muttered, looking

slapped him again–hard.

you? My husband trusted you! And you let

Mike hesitated, his face dark with guilt. “I swear, I tried to save

collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.

could

handed me a

help

I froze.

That bottle.

life, I drank

I woke up, Dave

of

78.8%

Chapter 1

was holding

was in that

bottle and hurled it

hell?”

I

tear for

everything I needed to know.

sorry for losing it,” I said, wiping my tears

taken it out on you.”

worry about it. I get it – you’re going

to help others,” I said quietly, looking at his

Mike’s brow furrowed.

do you

pulled out my iPhone and called

like to donate his organs

face went white as a sheet.

planned for

hold up,” Mike stammered, sweat

make that call

It’s my

gone. Why put his body through more trauma?