I cannot take any pity right now, genuine or not. The same people who question whether I’ll be okay. The whispers I’ve heard the last two days. But does it matter? Even when knowing these dark days lay ahead, we still try to deny their existence.Ī shiver rifles through me, and I clutch my stomach. Why did this day come so soon? Each day passes without a thought of tomorrow’s sorrow.

I walk along the flattened grass path and watch the tips of my black shoes leave behind the only life I had ever known. I squeeze my eyes tightly, and a tear trickles along the side of my face before I turn to walk away. The first innocent rose lying on top, soon to be followed by many. I lay the rose on the slick, shiny surface and pause, studying its placement. Bile threatens to rise as I stand and take a step forward. The preacher quits talking and looks directly at me. My best friend, Staci Benson, places a reassuring hand on my forearm, but every muscle tightens, forcing her withdrawal. My leg twitches and reinforces the urgency to leave. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and I stare at the gray, dismal sky that’s on the verge of erupting. I suddenly hate this scent and never want to smell it again. The sickening sweet scent churns my stomach. A thorn pricks my skin, but I don’t flinch‌-‌the pain doesn’t match the ache inside my chest. My lips press tight, and my hand clenches the long-stemmed rose. I’m all alone despite the preacher’s spiritual words. The people surrounding me are neither comforting nor reassuring. Without your hard work and dedication, this book would have never been brought to life. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Impossible Love by Kimberly Readnour