Opening Chapter?

‘Graham! Graham!’ I scream out his name.

The last thing I remember is being flung into the ditch after his motorbike is forced off the road. The car appearing out of nowhere, not giving him enough time to respond.

Its pitch black, but my eyes adjust to the darkness.

‘Graham!’ I call out again.

Still no answer.

I zone out – for how long I don’t know, but when I next open my eyes, all I can see is a flash of light. The sound of sirens so loud, I cannot think straight. Paramedics are putting a brace on my neck. ‘My husband . . . Graham . . . I’m fine.’

They go quiet and fuss round me instead.

‘Graham . . .’ I lose conscienceless.

When I wake up next, my eyes are aching, like I have a killer of a migraine. Doctors, nurses, a blur of action. My gaze darts from the heart monitor by my temporary bed to the door. My heart is racing so fast, I can’t distinguish it beating any more.

‘My husband . . . Graham . . . ?’

The nurse touches my shoulder. ‘Concentrate on you for now.’

My eyes won’t stay open long enough to get any sense of time. The next time I wake up, Mum is fussing over me. I blink, my eyes burning. It takes a few minutes to focus on the room around me. I’m in a room now. The smell of disinfectant making me want to retch.

‘Sarah . . . thank God.’

Mum presses a button. There is a high pitched beep. Doctors, nurses all concerned with my health. I don’t even know how long passes before the only people in the room are me and my parents.

‘Mum, where is Graham. Was he hurt in the crash too?’

Mum, unusually quiet lowers her gaze. She glances at Dad, who takes my hand in his. A pain surges through my throat. Looking back, I think I knew even before they told me.

‘Love . . . They tried their best . . . but he died a few hours after he was brought to the hospital.’