Chapter 3: Rising Action
Home no longer felt like or sounded like home. The heart was missing. Ripped out with Luke's absence.
The house was too quiet, too empty. Even the familiarity of the place felt like a stark reminder of what she had lost.
Hamish followed Samantha home, insisting on staying with her for a while. He made her a cup of tea and sat with her in silence, his presence a comforting anchor in the storm that was her life.
After a while, Samantha broke the silence. "Hamish, I need to do something. I can't just sit here and wait. I need to be proactive. I need to find out who did this to Luke and why."
Hamish looked at her, his expression serious.
"We know who and why Samantha. It was Eric. He's unstable young man. End of story" Hamish explained. "We've been trying to help him, but he's been spiraling out of control lately."
Samantha frowned. "Eric? Just because he also liked Clair? He shot my son in a jealous rage?" Samantha's voice was a whisper, a mixture of disbelief and horror. "But why? Why would he target Luke?"
Hamish sighed, running a hand through his light brown hair. "I'm not sure, Samantha. I think he just...snapped. He'd been having a hard time accepting Clair's feelings for Luke, and then with the bus crash and Clair's injuries, he just...lost it."
Samantha's eyes narrowed as she remembered the young man who had been pining after Clair, who had been so bitter when Clair and Luke started dating. "But why would he send me that note?
What does he think I have to do with any of this?" Samantha asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Hamish sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I don't know, Samantha. Maybe he's just confused, lashing out at anyone he thinks is close to Clair or Luke. It doesn't make sense, but then again, neither does shooting your own son."
"You said before that Luke was shot by accident. That a bullet ricocheted and hit him. Is that true?" Sarah begged for the truth. She needed to know if Luke had been shot intentionally or by accident.
Hamish took a deep breath before answering. "Yes, it was an accident, Samantha. Andrew and I were struggling with Eric to get control of the gun. The gun went off a few times. One of the bullets ricocheted off a nearby wall and struck Luke. He died almost instantly." Hamish's voice was heavy with regret, and he watched as Samantha let out a shuddering breath, her body convulsing with sobs.
"I tried to save him, but we couldn't stop the bleeding. Then the hospital went into lockdown and we couldn't get Luke to an operating room." Hamish's voice was filled with pain and regret. Samantha looked at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears. She knew that he had done everything he could to save her son, but it still didn't make the pain any less.
"Why didn't you call the police sooner?" Samantha asked, her voice hoarse from crying. "If you had, maybe Luke would still be alive."
Hamish looked away, his eyes filled with guilt. "We didn't want to risk making the situation worse. Eric was armed and unstable. We were trying to de-escalate the situation.
We thought that if we could calm him down, get him to put the gun down, we could call the police and avoid a tragic outcome." Hamish's voice was filled with regret and self-blame.
Samantha looked away, her heart aching with the weight of her son's loss. "I don't know what to do, Hamish. I feel like I'm drowning. Like I can't breathe. Everything is spinning out of control."
Hamish reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm so sorry.
I wish there was something I could do to make this all go away." Hamish's voice was thick with emotion as he held Samantha's hand, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her skin.
Samantha looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "Just tell me what to do, Hamish. I can't just sit here and do nothing...Hang on, wait a second. You couldn't get Luke to an operating room? You mean, he could have been saved if the hospital wasn't in lockdown?" Samantha's voice was barely above a whisper, her grip tightening on Hamish's hand as she processed the information.
Hamish's expression was grave as he nodded. "If we could have gotten him to the OR in time, there was a chance he could have survived. Luke was...he was too strong, too full of life to just...to just go like that." Hamish's voice cracked with emotion, and he had to pause to regain his composure.
Samantha's breath hitched in her throat as she struggled to contain her emotions.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
Hamish looked away, his guilt evident in every line of his face. "I...I didn't want to give you false hope, Samantha. I knew that even if we had been able to get him to an operating room, the odds of saving him were slim. I didn't want you to hold onto that hope, only to have it crushed later on."
Samantha's mind was racing with a million different thoughts and emotions. Anger, disbelief, desperation, and grief all warred within her. She turned to Hamish, her eyes flashing with intensity.
"Why couldn't you get him to an operating room?" Samantha demanded to know.
Her voice was tight with emotion, and her fingers dug into Hamish's hand.
Hamish sighed deeply, his gaze dropping to the floor. "We tried, Samantha. We really did. But the hospital went into lockdown almost immediately after the shooting. It was chaos. Security was everywhere, and we couldn't get clearance to move Luke to the OR. We were stuck in that room, watching him...watching him slip away."
Samantha's breath hitched in her throat as she took in Hamish's words. She could picture it now - the chaos, the desperation, the helplessness.
"Clearance...clearance from who?" Samantha's voice was barely above a whisper, but the intensity in her eyes was palpable. She needed answers, and she needed them now.
"Our chief of surgery. Annabella. She was the one who authorized the lockdown," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret.
"She's the one who decided that the hospital was more important than one little boy." Samantha's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Annabella? But she's one of the best. She's always been so...dedicated."
Hamish shrugged, his gaze still fixed on the floor. "I know. But she's always been more about the hospital than the patients. She's ruthless when it comes to protecting her reputation and the hospital's. She saw the shooting as a potential PR disaster and took immediate action to contain it."
Samantha's jaw clenched as she processed the information.
"Annabella killed my son!" Samantha's voice shook with rage and disbelief. "How could she do that? How could she put the hospital's reputation above Luke's life?"
Hamish looked up, his eyes meeting Samantha's. "I don't know how anyone could do that. But I do know that we need to be careful. Annabella is powerful and ruthless. If she found out that we were questioning her decisions, she could make things very difficult for us."
Samantha's hands balled into fists at her sides. "I don't care. Annabella didn't want me to tell Clair about Luke's death. This is why, Hamish! It's nothing to do with Clair's recovery. It's about Annabella saving her own arse!" Samantha exploded, standing up from her chair. She paced the length of the living room, her fists clenched at her sides.
"She didn't care about Luke or Clair or anyone else caught in that mess. She just wanted to save her precious hospital's reputation."
Hamish stood up as well, his eyes following Samantha as she paced. "Samantha, I understand that you're angry, and you have every right to be. But we need to be smart about this. We can't just go storming into Annabella's office and accuse her of murder. She'll have us both fired and blacklisted in no time," Hamish cautioned, his voice low and steady.
Samantha stopped pacing and turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger. "I don't care about that, Hamish. I don't care about my job or my reputation. I care about getting justice for Luke. I care about making sure that no other child has to die because some heartless bitch was more concerned with her precious hospital than with saving a life."
Hamish took a step closer to her, his voice firm but gentle.
"I understand that, Samantha. But we need to be strategic about this. We can't just go in guns blazing. We need evidence, proof. We need to build a case against Annabella that can't be ignored or swept under the rug."
Samantha's breath hitched as she struggled to contain her emotions. "Annabella gave me that note, Hamish. It's not a threat, it's a distraction. Annabella is behind all of this." Samantha's voice was low but filled with determination. "I don't care what it takes, Hamish. I'm going to find the proof we need to take her down."
Hamish sighed, his expression a mix of concern and understanding. "I know you're hurting, Samantha. And I want to help you get justice for Luke. But we need to be careful. We can't just go after Annabella without a solid plan or evidence."
Samantha scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You sound just like her, Hamish.
Always so cautious, always so worried about the consequences." Samantha's voice was a hiss, her eyes flashing with anger. "Well, I don't care about the consequences anymore. I just want the truth. I want justice for Luke."
Hamish took a deep breath, searching for the right words. But we can't just go after Annabella without a solid plan. We need evidence, witnesses, something to back up our claims. Otherwise, it's just your word against hers."
Samantha's eyes narrowed, her gaze locked onto Hamish's.
"Fine. I need to travel to Kalgoorlie anyway. Luke's father Mark lives there. I've got to tell him in person." Samantha's voice was resolute, like a rock in a storm, even as tears brimmed in her eyes.
Hamish's brow furrowed with concern. "Samantha, I'm not sure that's the best idea. Luke's father...he's not exactly stable. He's been in and out of rehab, and he's got a history of substance abuse. We don't know how he'll react to the news."
Samantha's jaw tightened, her eyes flashing with determination. "I know, Hamish. But he deserves to know. And I need to see him, to talk to him. He might know something, or have something that could help us," Samantha insisted, her voice firm despite the tears in her eyes.
Hamish sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I understand, Samantha. I really do. We don't want to put you or anyone else in harm's way."
Samantha took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll be careful, I promise. But I have to do this, Hamish. I have to find out what really happened to Luke."
Hamish looked at her for a long moment, his expression serious. "Alright, Samantha. I'll come with you to Kalgoorlie," Hamish said, his expression resolute. "Let's make some arrangements and leave as soon as possible."
"No. I have to do this alone," Samantha explained. "Besides, I need you to be at work. To update me and to keep things as normal as possible...And about tonight Hamish. About us...You're going to be a parent with Wilma. And I have Andrew." Samantha's voice was barely above a whisper, but the pain and resignation in her eyes were palpable. Hamish's heart ached for her. He knew how much she loved Luke, and the thought of her having to go through this alone was almost unbearable. He reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Samantha, I'm so sorry. I wish there was something I could do to make this all go away," Hamish said, his voice thick with emotion. He knew that his words were useless, but he couldn't stand the thought of her suffering alone.
"Samantha, I'm here for you. No matter what happens, I'm here for you. And I'll do everything in my power to help you find out what really happened to Luke."
Samantha looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of pain and gratitude. "I appreciate it more than you'll ever know. But right now, I need to do this on my own. I need to find out the truth, no matter how painful it is."
Hamish nodded, understanding her need to take control of the situation. "Alright, Samantha. I'll support you in any way I can.
If that means staying here and keeping an eye on things, then that's what I'll do," Hamish assured her, his voice steady and firm.
Samantha sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly with the weight of her grief and determination. "Thank you, Hamish. I appreciate it more than you know," she whispered.
The room fell silent for a moment, the ticking of the clock on the wall the only sound. Samantha's gaze drifted to the window, her eyes unfocused as she lost herself in thought.
"Samantha?" Hamish asked softly, breaking the silence.
She turned to him, her eyes meeting his.
"Yes, Hamish?"
"Are you sure you want to go to Kalgoorlie alone? It might be dangerous. You don't know how Mark will react. He might be a risk to you or to himself."
Samantha sighed and rubbed her temples, where a headache was beginning to form. "I need to do this. I need to talk to Mark, to see if he knows anything that could help us. And I need to do it alone. I can't risk putting anyone else in harm's way." Samantha's voice was resolute, but the weight of her decision was evident in her eyes.
Hamish nodded, understanding her desire to take control of the situation. "Okay, Samantha. But promise me that you'll be careful. Call me if anything feels off, no matter how small. I can't lose you too." His voice was filled with concern, and he reached out to take her hand again.
Samantha nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I will, Hamish. I promise."
Hamish stood up and walked over to the kitchen counter, where he poured two glasses of water.
He handed one to Samantha and took a sip from the other.
"How about this," he suggested, his voice calm and measured. "You can go to Kalgoorlie, but I'll make sure someone is watching your back. I can arrange for a private investigator to follow you discreetly. That way, you won't be completely alone."
Sarah laughed. "A private investigator? In Kalgoorlie? You've never been to Kalgoorlie before have you Hamish?" Samantha asked, her mind racing with thoughts of the small mining town.
"No, can't say that I have. It's not exactly a tourist hotspot," Hamish replied, sipping his water.
"Well, it's certainly different. Remote, dusty, and full of characters," Samantha reminisced, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Sounds like an interesting place," Hamish commented, his eyebrows raised.
Samantha nodded. "It is. But a private investigator will stick out like a sore thumb. I will be fine on my own." Hamish sighed, knowing that he couldn't persuade her otherwise. "Alright, but you have to swear to me that you'll be cautious. Don't take any unnecessary risks, and trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, get out of there immediately."
Samantha nodded, her eyes filled with determination.
Hamish looked at his watch and stood up. "I should get going. I have an early shift tomorrow, and there's still a lot of paperwork to do.
Let me know when you get to Kalgoorlie, and keep me updated, okay?" Hamish said as he grabbed his coat from the back of the chair.
Samantha nodded, her gaze following him as he moved towards the door. Thank you. For everything."
Hamish paused, his hand on the doorknob as he looked back at her. "You don't have to thank me, Samantha. I care about you. About both of you." His voice was soft, filled with sincerity.
Samantha's eyes welled up again, but she just gave him a small smile.
"You're going to be a father soon enough, Hamish. Then you will know the terror of being a parent," Sarah half smiled, half cried.
Hamish nodded, his expression serious. "I know it's different when it's your own child, but I've watched so many families deal with loss and pain. It never gets easier."
He opened the door, the cold night air rushing in, but it was no match for the chill that had settled in Samantha's heart. As he stepped out, he turned to her one last time. "Call me the moment you get to Kalgoorlie. And remember, be careful."
With that, he was gone, leaving Samantha alone with her thoughts and a heart full of pain and determination.
Samantha locked the door behind him and leaned against it, taking a deep breath.
Luke, the one true love of her life was gone forever. And with him, a piece of herself. Samantha slid down the door, landing on the cold wooden floor with a thud. She wrapped her arms around her knees, rocking back and forth, letting the tears flow freely.
She thought about the past year, the joy and laughter Luke had brought into her life. How he had filled the void left by his father's absence. How he had made her a mother, a family. And now, he was gone. Just like that.
Samantha couldn't help but think about Mark, Luke's father. He had been a part of her life for a brief moment, before he succumbed to his demons of addiction.
But he had given her the most precious gift, Luke. And now, that gift was taken away from her.
Samantha let out a sob, the sound echoing through the empty house. She missed Luke's laughter, his energy, his constant chatter. She missed the way he would run into her arms after school, his backpack bouncing on his shoulders. She missed the way he would hug her tightly, his small arms wrapped around her neck. She missed the way he would whisper, "I love you, Mum," before going to sleep. She missed everything about him.
And now, she was going to have to face his father, who hadn't been a part of his life in years. She didn't know how Mark would react to the news, but she knew she had to tell him in person. She had to give him the chance to say goodbye to his son.
Samantha took a deep breath and wiped away her tears, steeling herself for the journey ahead. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to find the truth, no matter what it took.
She headed to the bedroom and began packing a bag, her mind racing with everything she needed to do before she left.
She would have to notify the school where she worked as a nurse - Luke's school - about Luke's death and her absence.
She would need to inform Luke's friends and their parents, and she dreaded breaking the news to them. She grabbed a pen and paper from the kitchen drawer and started jotting down a list of tasks and phone calls she needed to make.
She needed to phone Andrew. Thank him for answering questions at the police station and for attempting to save Luke's life. She also needed to tell him about her encounter with Hamish. No more lies. She had told Hamish that she had Andrew but she knew that her grief over Luke was going to be too severe for their relationship to work. They just hadn't gotten enough time together to survive this trauma. They were dead in the water and it would be kinder in the long run to just let Andrew go live his life.
Samantha knew she was far from the best thing for him in his life right now.
As she packed her bag, her mind drifted to Luke.
She remembered the day he was born, how she held him in her arms for the first time, and the overwhelming love she felt. She thought about all the firsts they shared - his first steps, his first words, his first day of school. She remembered the laughter, the joy, and the unbreakable bond they shared. Her heart ached with the weight of the memories and the void that would now forever be a part of her life.
She zipped up her bag and dragged it into the living room, setting it by the door. She looked around the house, taking in the countless memories that filled every corner. She thought about how different things would have been if Luke had lived.
The future she had envisioned for them was now shattered, replaced by a dark void of uncertainty. She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. She couldn't afford to fall into despair now. She had a mission, a purpose, and she was going to see it through, no matter what it took.
As she finished packing, her phone rang. She picked it up and saw Andrew's name on the screen. She hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Hello?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Samantha, it's Andrew. How are you holding up?" Andrew's voice was gentle, filled with concern.
Samantha could hear the emotions beneath his words, the pain and the want to help. But she knew that nothing could truly ease the agony she felt.
"I'm holding up," Samantha lied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "Just making some arrangements for the trip to Kalgoorlie."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Trip to Kalgoorlie? Why are you going there?" Andrew asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Samantha sighed, running a hand through her short, dark hair. "I need to tell Luke's father about what happened.
I have to do it in person," Samantha explained, her voice tight with emotion.
Andrew was silent for a moment, processing her words. "I see. And how do you think he'll take the news?"
Samantha took a deep breath and let out a shaky laugh. "I have no idea. I haven't seen him since Luke was a baby. But I need to try. For Luke's sake."
"I understand," Andrew said softly. "Do you want me to come with you? For support?"
Samantha's heart twisted at his offer, but she knew that she needed to do this alone. "Thank you, Andrew.
But I need to do this on my own," Samantha said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's going to be hard enough telling Mark about Luke without having to explain your presence as well."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Andrew spoke again. "I understand. You're right. This is something you need to do alone." His voice was soft, but Samantha could hear the pain and regret behind his words.
"But promise me that you'll be careful," Andrew continued, his voice firm.
"And call me as soon as you get to Kalgoorlie, okay? I want to know that you're safe."
Samantha took a deep breath, appreciating his concern. "I will, Andrew. I promise. Thank you for understanding."
"Of course, Samantha. I care about you," Andrew replied, his voice gentle. "And I care about Luke too. He was a great kid. We all miss him terribly."
Samantha felt tears welling up again, but she blinked them away. "I know, Andrew. We all do. That's why I need to do this. For Luke," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Andrew sighed on the other end of the line. "I know, Samantha. I understand. But please, be careful. Mark is unpredictable, and you don't know how he'll react. Promise me that you'll keep your guard up." I promise," Samantha assured him. "And thank you. I care about you, and I want to be here for you in any way I can. But I also know that you're strong and capable, and you don't need anyone to fight your battles for you." Andrew paused, his voice turning serious. "Just promise me that you'll let me know if you need anything. I'll drop everything if you need me to."
Samantha smiled softly, grateful for his support.
"Anytime, Samantha. Anytime." Andrew replied, his voice warm. "Now, are you sure you'll be okay to drive?
You've had a long day, and you're not exactly in the best frame of mind," Andrew's voice was concerned, but gentle.
Samantha took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to center herself. "I'll be okay, Andrew. I need to do this. I need to get out of here, away from...everything." She opened her eyes and looked around her home, her gaze landing on the empty space where Luke's toys and drawings used to be.
"I can't stay here, Andrew. Not right now. Not with everything...with everything that's happened." Samantha's voice wavered slightly, but she took a deep breath and steadied herself.
Andrew was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "It's going to be hard, but I know you can do this. You're strong, and you have a purpose now. You need to find out what happened to Luke, and you need to get justice for him."
Samantha nodded, her resolve strengthening with each passing second. "Yes, I do. And I won't stop until I have all the answers," Samantha said, her voice steady with determination.
"That's my girl," Andrew replied, his voice warm and encouraging. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself too. Grieve when you need to, but don't let it consume you."
Samantha took a deep breath, knowing that she needed to keep moving forward, no matter how much it hurt. "I promise. Thank you, Andrew, for everything. For being here for me, for supporting me."
"Anytime, Samantha. You know that. And remember, if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to call. Day or night."
"Andrew, there's something I need to tell you." Samantha's voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of her confession hung heavy in the air.
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Samantha could imagine Andrew's brow furrowing with concern. "What is it, Samantha? You can tell me anything."
Samantha took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her shoulders slumping as she prepared to bare her soul to him. "It's about Hamish. Earlier tonight, before we went into the police station. I slept with him." The words tumbled out of Samantha's mouth before she could stop them, her voice barely audible, laced with guilt and shame. There was a heavy silence on the other end of the line, and Samantha closed her eyes, bracing herself for Andrew's reaction.
"Andrew, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. "It was a one-time thing, and it shouldn't have happened. I don't know what I was thinking."
Andrew's voice was quiet, but firm when he finally spoke. "I think you should tell me the whole story, Samantha. From the beginning," Andrew said, his voice calm and steady. Samantha could tell he was hurting, but he was also trying to be understanding. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before she began to speak.
"I don't think that's going to change anything, Andrew. I think it all leads to the same conclusion," Samantha replies, her voice shaky with regret. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself for the fallout. "It happened in Hamish's car. At the police station car park. I wanted to be held, to be loved, to feel...and he was there willing to do that." Samantha paused, her voice choking with the weight of her confession. "I know it was wrong, Andrew. I just...I needed him. I needed the comfort, the distraction. I didn't think about the consequences, about us. I'm so, so sorry."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Samantha could hear Andrew's breath hitch, could imagine him struggling to process her words. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady, but the pain was evident. "I see," he said softly. "And how was it? With Hamish?" Andrew's voice was barely a whisper, as if he was scared of the answer.
Samantha looked down at her hands, the weight of her actions bearing down on her. "It was...comforting," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "He made me feel safe, for a moment. Like everything was going to be okay. But it was wrong, Andrew. I know it was wrong."
There was another pause, and Samantha could practically hear the gears turning in Andrew's mind. "Did he know?" he asked finally, his voice cautious.
Samantha hesitated, her mind racing. "Know what, Andrew?"
"Did he know that you have feelings for me?" Andrew's voice was soft, but Samantha could hear the underlying tension.
She sighed, running a hand through her short, dark hair. "No, he didn't. I mean, we never really talked about it. It was just...a moment of weakness on both our parts. It didn't mean anything."
There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment before Andrew spoke again. "So, what happens now, Samantha? Where do we stand?" Andrew's voice was quiet, but she could hear the pain and confusion lurking beneath the surface.
Samantha let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes as if to block out the world. "I don't know, Andrew. I don't have the answers you're looking for. I wish I did."
She heard Andrew sigh on the other end of the line, his voice heavy with regret. "I never thought this would happen, Samantha. Not with us. I thought we were stronger than this."
Tears stung Samantha's eyes as she nodded, even though Andrew couldn't see her.
"I never wanted to hurt you. That was never my intention."
Andrew's voice was thick with emotion. "I know you didn't. But it still hurts. It hurts a lot."
Samantha swallowed hard, her heart aching for him. "I'm so sorry, Andrew. I truly am."
There was a long pause before Andrew spoke again, his voice strong and steady. "Look, we both need some time to process this. To figure out what we want, what we need. We can talk more when you get back from Kalgoorlie. Just promise me you'll be safe, Samantha." Andrew's voice was filled with concern, but also with understanding.
Samantha let out a shaky breath, wiping away the stray tears that had fallen. "I promise, Andrew. I'll be careful. And we'll talk more when I get back. I love you." The words slipped out before she could stop them, but they felt right.
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Andrew spoke again, his voice filled with emotion. "I love you too, Samantha. More than you'll ever know," Andrew replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "Take care of yourself, okay? Call me if you need anything. Anything at all."
"I promise," Samantha said, her voice barely a whisper as she wiped away the last of her tears.
After they hung up, Samantha stood in the silence of her living room for a moment, her mind racing with everything that had happened.
As she entered the kitchen, she noticed a small, framed photo on the counter. It was a picture of her, Luke, and Mark, taken when Luke was just a baby. They were all smiling, their faces filled with joy and happiness. Samantha picked up the photo, her heart aching with a fresh wave of grief. She tucked the photo into her bag, a memento to take with her on her journey.
She looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. Where did all those hours go?
Had it been that long since she'd left the hospital? Since Luke's life had been torn away from her? Samantha shook her head, trying to clear the fog that had settled there. She needed to stay focused, stay strong. She had a long drive ahead of her, and she needed to be alert.
She would sleep until 6am, then hit the road early. It was an eight hour drive to Kalgoorlie, not including breaks. It didn't feel right to sleep in her bed though. She had memories of Luke climbing in next to her when he was younger and having nightmares. He would snuggle up against her, his small hands gripping her nightgown as he sought comfort in her presence. It felt like a lifetime ago, now.
Samantha decided to sleep on the couch, unable to face the emptiness of her bed. She grabbed a blanket and pillow from the linen closet and made a makeshift bed on the sofa. She lay down, her mind racing with thoughts of Luke, of Hamish, of Andrew, and of what awaited her in Kalgoorlie.
She stared at the ceiling, her eyes tracing the patterns in the texture until they began to blur together.
She closed her eyes, willing sleep to come and take her away from the pain, if only for a little while.