All Chapters of His Final Collapse: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

A week and a half ago, I had made plans with my husband, Caden Hall, to hit the slopes at Saint Lorenzo Snow Mountain.Decked out in my ski gear, I was relaxing in the lobby as I waited for the instructor when Caden showed up with his high school sweetheart, Kelly Turner, in tow.He pushed a consent form into my hands, his eyes pleading. "Vanessa, you're a bone marrow match for Kelly. After we return, let's get the surgery done, okay?"Kelly, looking ghostly pale, clutched my hand, her voice a whisper of thanks. "Vanessa, I can't tell you how much it means that you'd do this for me. Caden and I are both so thankful."I pulled my hand back, a lump forming in my throat. "Caden, I'm pregnant. Can we... Can we put off the donation?" I was about to ditch the ski gear and dig out the pregnancy test from my bag to prove it.However, Kelly's eyes brimmed with tears as she stared at me. "Vanessa, Caden's been by my side in the hospital for months. How could you be pregnant?"I know you're

The three-day ultimatum he had given me was up, and I was still a no-show at the hospital.Kelly kept telling him she felt herself weakening, and the fed-up Caden headed back home.However, the house had not changed, except for a new notice about an overdue electricity bill stuck to the door.I watched Caden try to call me from the doorstep.The phone just gave back a robotic tone, saying the number he dialed was switched off.He frowned, opened his messaging app, and saw the same messages he had sent three days ago, begging me to come forward and donate bone marrow to Kelly.I could not respond, of course.He tapped on my social profile and froze when he saw the picture I had posted 13 days back.There I was, on top of a snow-capped mountain with the sunrise behind me. The caption was short and sweet—[Happy third anniversary.]His hand shook as if he had only just remembered that 13 days ago was our third anniversary.He stared at the photo for a long moment before going bac

We arrived at the morgue, and the worker yanked open a couple of fridge drawers.There I was, along with my mom, just lying there.Due to the ice and snow, I looked pretty much the same. Not bloated or anything.Mom's story was different, though. Wolves had gotten to her, and all that was left was her head."Vanessa, don't look," Mom whispered, pulling me close and covering my eyes with her hand.For some reason, I could almost sense the warmth of her spirit.Caden's gaze was locked on my face, and he stood completely still.His emotions were all over the place."How can this be? She was just fine when I left. It's only been half an hour."The staff member looked pained but continued with the task at hand. "Mr. Hall, these are Mrs. Vanessa's personal belongings. Please go through them."Clutching my backpack, Caden broke down in tears.Mom wrapped her arms around me, perched on a corner table, and sang the lullabies of my youth."Don't cry, sweetheart. I've never once regre