Chapter 1

The flashing lights in his mind weren't caused by a near death experience, although those who have experienced a broken heart would say it's just as bad. No, it was the moment he saw Beatrice kissing another man that caused the memories of their entire relationship fly through his mind like bullets full of mementos, destroying every layer of skin they hit.

          But it couldn't possibly be Beatrice...right? She was supposed to be showing a house today. She left home in her best outfit that pressed against her perfect curves, put on her best shoes that accented her toned calves, straightened her brown hair to give the world a glimpse of its shine and applied her makeup ever so gently on her full lips, high cheekbones, and dark brown eyes...because that's what she does. That's what she does to look professional. She needs to resemble the photo on her business card. That's what she does every time she shows a home.

          Because she's been showing several homes lately.

          Yet there she was, holding his face in the palm of her hand. The way she used to hold Collin's. Their lips moved insatiably, smothering the lipstick she worked so hard to apply. Her other hand was rubbing his chest. Her eyelashes that looked like tidal waves, closed shut as she enjoyed every moment of it.

          But she hated public displays of affection. Every time Collin went in for a kiss anywhere in public, she gave him a peck and moved away. It's not ladylike she would say. I just ate tons of garlic was a new one she used.

          Yet there she was, in broad daylight. Sitting at the outdoor patio area of a pub in downtown. It doesn't get any more public than that.

          There were two champagne glasses full of orange juice in front of them. At the center of the table, a champagne bottle sat in a silver container that had beads of sweat running down its side. No food, not even an appetizer, they just consumed alcohol.

          Everything moved even slower when, lips unattached, the adulterous man's elbow, that relaxed on the backrest of the chair he sat in like some audacious prick that thinks he's God's gift to mankind, extended towards Beatrice, placed his hand on the small of her back, and pulled her in closer. Beatrice's head cock back with laughter, her hair waved in the wind as she did so, her eyes batted at him after her laughter ceased and they locked lips once again.

          While the rest of Collin's muscles struggled to keep his body vertical, his hands went numb. He dropped his briefcase to the ground and the room began to spin.

          "Dr. Murphy?" said the perky woman who called in the interviewees.

          Collin didn't hear her the first time. She called his name louder, noticing him standing their unresponsive. He heard her the second time, but he couldn't make use of his legs. She closed the door behind her and walked into the waiting room. She looked out the window that went from floor to ceiling to see if there was some catastrophe keeping his eyes locked outside, but she saw nothing.

          "Collin," she said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

          He turned to look at her, eyes on the verge of tears. His lips parted open as if to say something but nothing came out.

          "They're ready for you," she said.

          He turned to look back outside and noticed the waitress drop off the check to their table. Finally, they stopped. He saw the man wearing an big ugly silver wristwatch with a red face on it as he took out his wallet and dropped cash onto the table. They were leaving the restaurant.

          "Collin," she said, her hand clutching his shoulder. "You can't keep them waiting."

          "Kelly?"he asked. "What floor are we on?"

          She tilted her head in confusion, "The second."

          He was gradually coming to. He remembered the layout of the building he was in. The emergency stairs were next to the elevator. The elevator was outside this waiting room. The waiting room was a small room, about twenty five feet long, with a coffee table in the middle and a plant that would topple over if he bumped into it too hard. He could make it just in time to catch them in the act.

          "Collin," she continued to whisper, preventing stares coming from the other two men sitting in the room. "What gives?"

          "Kelly," he said as he bent down to pick up his briefcase, "Please tell them I can't interview today."

          "They moved things around for you," she said worryingly. "I asked them to. You know I did. You're perfect for this position. Your work says it all. This job is perfect for you."

          "Something came up," he replied. "I can't do this today."

          "They won't reschedule."

          "Fine," he said as he made his way to the door.

          "Collin!" Kelly exclaimed, making her final plea. But he was out the door.

          He ran down the stairs. When he approached the bottom floor, he jumped off the last six steps and made his way through the lobby of the building.

          "Have a good day!" said the chipper concierge as Collin passed by.

          The restaurant was on the opposite side of the entrance to the building. He ran around the corner and bumped into a bike messenger. He didn't stop to check on him, he just kept running. He saw the restaurant and began to cross the street, blind to the red light pointing in his direction. He looked at their table, but they were gone. He walked onto the street to get a closer look. Suddenly, he heard glass crack as his body rolled onto the top of the hood of a car, breaking the windshield, and rolling back off. Specks of black crowded his vision when he hit the ground. And after a moment, they consumed his entire vision.

Chapter 2 -->