died my

12

Time blurred as the Shanes arrived at the morgue.

Linda approached my body, her fingers gently tracing my face.

She pulled out her phone and handed it to Terry.

“Watch this. The doctor just sent it to me.”

Terry’s eyes widened as he watched, his pupils constricting.

I peered over his shoulder at the screen.

It was a viral cancer documentary, and there I was, one of its subjects.

The me on screen was gaunt, hair thinned from chemo. Terry stared in disbelief, having always thought I was faking. When cancer had ravaged me, I’d longed for his presence but

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couldn’t bear for him to see me so broken.

His return had filled me with such joy that I’d pushed everything else aside.

This inner conflict had led me down a dark path.

“Ms. Lowe, how do you stay so positive?” the interviewer asked. Despite my weakness, I mustered a smile.

“Because I have someone I love,” my recorded voice replied softly.

Linda broke into sobs.

Terry fumbled with the phone, clearly shaken.

“No, it can’t be true,” Terry muttered, his words a jumble. “Wendy was always afraid of death. She can’t be dead. You’re all lying.” His denial was absurd.

Yes, I feared death, but that didn’t make me invincible.

Bob, enraged, slapped Terry hard.

“Allen Lowe saved my life,” he growled. “You’ve killed his wife

and betrayed his daughter. How can I ever repay my debt now?” He shook his head in disgust.

“What a tragedy for this family”