The Power Of A Choice- Chapter One (First Draft)

Chapter One1

When one hears of the stopping of time and space it is usually taken lightly and with little regard. Surely even in the most intense instances there could not possibly be a moment where time and reality fails.2

Though for those who have felt it, they will never forget. One such woman was Lilly Harper. Even as she stood with the phone still at her ear, she knew everything had stopped. Reality could not possibly function with such a situation. It wasn't reality any more. Her shock heightened her senses to a level she could not even understand. It was like a scene from a movie, everything blurred, time slowed to a snail like pace. Her breath rasped into the silence.3

She had to leave. It would be unbearable to stay any longer. Even with a muffled voice still coming from the receiver she hung up the phone. Looking down she tore off her apron that seemed so foreign now.4

She grabbed her bag from behind the counter and swung it over her shoulder. A shout came from Maggie but Lilly didn't stop. Only one thing was on her mind: She had to see it. A hand extended from the nearest booth and graced her elbow. When she tried to move on the hand took a strong grip. Lilly turned to face the owner of the cruel grip that seemed to stop her from her destination. A woman with a piercing stare looked back at her. Her old frail face looked on with a deep concern.5

“What in heaven's name is wrong?” The woman inquired. Her words seemed alien and surreal. Lilly couldn't even comprehend it. She shook her head and pulled loose of the grip. She turned to leave and found her vision blurred. Reaching up she found her eyes brimming with tears that she did not realize were there. She swatted them away and ran out the door.6

The cold winter air hit her with a strong intensity that any other day would have made her falter. Goose flesh erupted on her skin but she didn't care. Her shaking hands fumbled with her keys as she tried to unlock her small car. Lilly shook so bad that she couldn't hold her hand steady enough to correctly insert the key.7

Frustrated she through her arms to her sides and then pushed the blond strands of hair out of her face. Her anger and frustration built and her tears came down harder. Lilly tried again in vain to fit the key in the door. A small hand came and steadied hers. With the key inserted and turned the door opened easily. Lilly looked up to see Maggie watching her with strong worry on her expression.8

“Lilly, who called you?” Maggie asked with a calm voice. Her arms were crossed over her large frame and her legs held her in a steady wide stance. When no reply came from Lilly Maggie implored again. “Lilly, who called you? Was it about Adam? Did they find him?”9

Lilly's breathing became quick, frantic and labored. She seemed to be working up to hyperventilation. Her eyes were glazed over with no emotion on her face. She seemed to be one with a lost soul even. She could not even look her dear friend in the eye.10

“Lilly, please come back inside.” Maggie's expression had softened and she reached out for Lilly's arm. As soon as contact was made it seemed as if the girl had been awoken from a dream.11

“Let me go! I have to find him! I have to see it!” Lilly's rants became angry and frantic. She shoved her door open even further and she climbed into the blue run-down car. Maggie's muffled voice could be heard through the glass window but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Soon the engine was roaring under the hood after several tries.12

Lilly shifted into reverse and pulled out of the diner parking lot. The car blew cold air and the radio blared the harsh sound of screamo. Lilly's breathing was stabilized again and she ignored all around her. Almost as if someone else was controlling the car she went through the motions of driving. She drove from the west side of town in through the suburbs to avoid traffic. Then she turned back out towards the river. She had driven this route so many times that it was automatic. Though the emotions behind the drive have never been like those she was experiencing now.13

Reminiscent memories flashed through the shocked, seemingly mechanic mind of Lilly Harper. It seemed easier to pretend she was living those joyful moments instead of driving to the horrible fate that awaited her now. So much easier to pretend that laughter filled the car name instead of the deathly silence that engulfed it now.14

The stony colored water came into view as the road turned to parallel its course. The dull and dark color seemed to reflect the feelings that Lilly felt. Though the river's beauty seemed to taunt her pain. Even the billowing storm seemed to foreshadow the events that awaited her at Dawson's Park.15

As the bare trees came into view a lump settled in Lilly's throat. Her breathing became harder and harder. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel harder. She turned into the small recreational area. As she drove through the few roads her vision was again clouded over by thick salty tears.16

Lilly rounded a bend to find flashing lights and caution tape. Several emergency vehicles were on scene including patrol cars, a fire truck, and an ambulance. Along with these was a tow truck that seemed as if it was getting ready to leave and a trailer pulling...his truck.17

Flooding tears changed to retching sobs. An emotional ache turned into a physical pain and denial turned to reality. It had hit her. It was true. Adams truck was in the accident, they did drag it up from the bottom of the river, and his body wasn't recovered. Lilly sat idling in the small parking lot unable to function.18

Minutes seemed like hours as her world fell apart around her. She curled up as the pain in her chest seemed unbearable. Her whole body was in physical pain. She was freezing to death and burning alive. She was asleep but awake, tortured by reality.19

A small rap came at the window but Lilly didn't move. She didn't want to face it again. She remained curled up and pretended that she didn't hear it. A muffled voice filtered through the car and inquired over her well being but again she ignored it. Outside the officer was getting worried and called over the detective who was in charge of the case. 20

As the man walked over he ruffled through some papers in a small file in his hands. When he was close enough, the original officer explained about how he noticed a crying woman observing the scene then collapsing in sobs. The detective nodded his head and glanced inside the small blue car at the woman. He then looked back at his files and ordered some brief instructions. The detective walked away to get back to another inquiry.21

“Miss? Miss can you talk to me please?” The officer was leaning up against the glass and tapping the window with his knuckles. Lilly remained curled up and unmoving on the front seat. “Miss are you Lilly Harper?” The name seemed to strike something in Lilly and she sat up and looked up at the middle aged man. She found a tissue and wiped her nose as she nodded. “Miss Harper could you please step out of the car?” 22

Lilly opened the door and stepped out shakily, shivering. She crossed her arms over herself and rubbed her arms to keep warm. All the while tears still streamed down her flushed cheeks. Goose-flesh covered all of her exposed flesh. Her green diner uniform had tears down the front along with the usual grease stains.23

“So you are Lilly Harper? Fiancée of Adam Coller?” A soft concerned expression crossed the short man's face. He also seemed to pity the poor girl in front of him.24

“Yes, I am.” Her voice was choked with emotion and the sputters of sobbing continued to escape between words.25

“As you have already been informed, your Fiancée was in a head on collision and in consequence of that crash, slid off the road and into the river. His truck was recovered but we were unable to locate his body. I am sorry for your loss.” He paused to watch Lilly's reaction. Her eyes glazed over as she started to speak.26

“He proposed here. Seems kind of ironic, don't you think? That the one spot that we have had the best moments is where it all ends?” She laughed a little under her breath biting her lip. “We came here all the time. It always seemed so perfect. It seems so strange that this is the exact spot where you guys chose to recover him.27

“He used to tell me it was magical.” Lilly's expression drastically changed from a sort of strange happiness to a sickening anger. “Now it only is pain. There is nothing left here. No beauty or joy, only pain.” The officer seemed a little a taken back. She looked back at him as if he had just arrived and spoke in a mechanical tone. “Thank you for your time officer, please have someone call me if his body is found.”28

With that she turned around and got back into her car. The officer just stood there shocked. Lilly started the car and pulled out without a look back. Her steely exterior had extended far further than a look in her eyes. She was refusing to feel, refusing to believe, refusing to die inside.29

Once again Lilly was on auto pilot. She didn't realize what she was doing and once she was home she wouldn't remember driving there. As she walked into her small apartment memories assaulted her once more. A picture on the table, a hoodie hanging on the back of a chair, the engagement ring on her finger. All reminders of the best man she had ever met.30

Tears came to her eyes once more. She walked blindly through the house, touching things and remembering. Remembering. Once Lilly's tears became too much to bear she went to her room and curled up on her bed fully dressed. Her whole existence seemed to die but she remained to feel it.31

Then she felt something she was sure to never experience again: a kiss on the neck.