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Prologue

“Jane”

Someone called her name Repeatedly An echo in her head, it didn’t stop Hurt her brain Hurt her entire body

It all hurts so much…

“Jane Wake up”

She tried to lift her lids, but it felt as if concrete blocks sat atop them Where was Stephen? Where were her children? Usually they were tackling her in bed by now At least one of thehtly basis

“You’re in the hospital” The gravity in the new person’s voice was severe The sound of the voice was faht be her brother But ould Patrick be in her bedroom?

“You were hurt in an accident” Her brother drew closer—she heard him, smelled him—and she swore he spoke directly into her ear “Wake up, Jane You’ve been asleep long enough We need to talk to you You need to co”

Slowly she opened her eyes, slaht “Too bright,” she croaked, her throat painfully dry It felt as if she hadn’t spoken or drunk for months

“Close the curtains,” Patrick ordered He sounded upset But why?

“Why…are…you…here?” Every as a struggle, and the pain that radiated throughout her body was excruciating Yet she couldn’t move

It was as if she were strapped down in the bed She noticed a continuous beeping noise, the quiet ht the unmistakable antiseptic scent of a hospital

Panic flooded her veins, et the pain, the confusion “Where are the children?” All weakness in her voice was gone She struggled to sit up, but gentle hands touched her shoulder and settled her back down

“The kids are fine, Jane” Another familiar voice, this one her mother’s, and she heard the transparent sadness “They’re staying with us for the ti”

“I don’t understand” She opened her eyes once h she saw the beloved shape of her ht next to her “I don’t knohat’s happening toshe didn’t want to face it

“Your house was on fire” Patrick spoke again, terse and strained “You’ve been in the hospital”

“The house?” She tried to frown but it hurt too e on the side of her head? “Where’s Stephen?”

Patrick started to speak, but their mother cut him off “Don’t She needs to be eased into this”

“Eased into what?” Jane tried to reach for her mother but she couldn’t “What happened to me? What happened to Stephen? And the children?”

“Shhh,” herher hand on top of Jane’s arm “Your babies are fine, I promise But they miss their mother We need you back”

“I—I didn’t knoas gone” She closed her eyes, exhaustion threatening to take over Since when had speaking a feords worn her out so quickly? What rong with her? She didn’t understand

“We need to tell her the truth, Mo brother touched her, a brief brush of his fingers over the top of her head Sadness engulfed her before he even said the words “The house fire—it happened two ht away; Stephen et you and…”