3
I barely made it out of the lab before my
phone rang.
I answered, and my mother–in–law’s wails
filled my ear.
“Leah, Kevin… Kevin’s gone! The doctor said
we need a signature to release the body. You
need to get back here now!”
“I’m on my way! I’m so sorry, Mom. Please, try
to stay strong.”
I hung up, took a deep breath, and drove
I printed out the stock transfer agreement
and sped to the hospital.
Kevin and I founded that company right after
college. We each owned 40%, with the
remaining 20% divided among five other
investors.
Last time, Stacey and her lawyer showed up
at the funeral and I found out Kevin had
secretly bought out the remaining shares
before our wedding. That made him the
majority shareholder, with 60%.
Once Stacey’s little spawn inherited that
stock, she would control the entire company.
The hospital room was a mess of tears and
hysteria.
<
As soon as I walked in, my mother–in–law
lunged at me, ready to slap me. “Where the
hell have you been? Get on your knees!”
The crying quieted down as everyone turned
to watch the drama, not wanting to miss a
single detail.
I gritted my teeth and lowered my head. “I’m
so sorry. I was in such a hurry that I got into a
car accident. That’s why I’m late.”
Everyone noticed the bloodstain on my knees.
An older relative immediately said, “Oh,
honey! Your knee is all busted up, don’t make
her kneel. You need to ask her the story
before you get all physical, you need to do
better.”
く
My mother–in–law stammered, desperately
changing the subject. “I’m just so upset! Just
sign the papers so we can release the body.
Don’t make my baby wait any longer.”
After signing, I threw myself over Kevin’s
body and sobbed all the way to the morgue.
The body would be kept there overnight
before being taken to the funeral home.
The doctor said gently, “I’m sorry for your
loss. No one is allowed in here.”
As everyone dispersed, I looked at him.
through tear–filled eyes. “Doctor, I didn’t get
to say goodbye to my husband. Can I just
have five minutes alone with him?”
The doctor besitated then pedded walking
L
The doctor hesitated, then nodded, walking
away to the stairwell.
With my back to the camera, I held Kevin
close, whispering my farewells as I pulled the
stock transfer agreement from my jacket.
I took his soon–to–be–stiff finger, dabbed it
in the red ink I found in my bag, and pressed
it to the signature line on the document.
After I was done, I called the doctor back and
left.
