Read the First Chapter of Finding Forever

The sun was high in the sky when I opened my eyes. I felt the heat burning the back of my neck, the red blush noticeable on my arms. I should have been enjoying my surroundings, the palm trees, white sand, and the sound of birds chirping. I thought of the pink bikini I’d packed, the sunbathing, and the memories we would create. I banished them just as quickly as I sat motionless staring out at the deep blue sea.  I always loved the sea, the peace, and the tranquility it brought.  I hadn’t planned on it being the last thing I would see, though.  Yesterday was the best day of my life. The perfect wedding, white and luxurious just as we’d planned it. I truly believed that my life was just beginning when we boarded Charles’ yacht with friends and family for our wedding reception. It was everything I’d ever imagined, the sun, the sea, the laughter, the champagne.  My lips tilted into a smile as I remembered dancing on the deck, soft, romantic music filling the air and night lanterns setting the tone.  I thought of the smiles and memorable moments our photographer captured. I’d never see them now.

How quickly perfection can fade.  Just one moment is all it takes and for me, that moment decided to freeze. I was locked inside the trauma.  I tried pinching myself awake, convinced I was trapped in a nightmare, suffering from wedding nerves.  It happened so many times over the past week, night terrors, screams, sweat dripping, and heart racing, all ending with me bolting upright, at home, in my bed.  It didn’t happen this time and as my eyes took in the tattered remains of my Armani wedding dress, I knew this was a nightmare I wasn’t escaping from.

No one ever tells you what happens when a body dies.  They don’t tell you about what happens next.  I heard death had a distinctive smell, but the putrid rotting that was filling my nostrils was something I could never have prepared myself for.

Read the rest of Chapter 1