A few minutes later, Olivia broke the news of Marcus’s fate to her husband. James was devastated. Joining Helen in her room, he cried hard for his friend, but he did something that she didn’t have the heart to do: Question the circumstances of Marcus’s death. Both Helen and Olivia had failed to ask the police anything further about the truck. All they knew was that it had somehow caught fire.

After contacting Captain Boyd though, it became clear to James that there was nothing suspicious concerning the case. According to the police officer, it was a mere accident. The few eye witnesses described that the driver had been speeding and that he had crashed into a light pole. They had also mentioned that the truck’s gas tank exploded very quickly and engulfed it in flames. Indeed, nothing indicated foul play.

By the early morning, David Donovan had identified his son’s body, but that only confirmed what Helen had known from the beginning. Still, for some reason she could not fathom, this piece of information was leaked to the press. In a matter of a few hours, the internet was swamped with reports of a marine who had been considered dead for six years, getting killed in a car accident. And, much to Helen’s annoyance, many reporters called Marcus a “traitor”, “rogue”, or even a “ruthless illegal arms dealer, who got what he deserved.” More than that, due to his past, he would not be given a military funeral. For the government, Marcus was not worthy of one. Unable to believe her eyes, Helen was outraged. In fact, Helen was so angry that she tried calling the webmaster of “Sparkmedia.com”, but Olivia prevented her from doing so, maintaining that the news outlet would probably publish an article on her and humiliate her as well. Leaving Helen’s room, Olivia urged her to not let her pain cloud her judgment, as that could have catastrophic effects, potentially even worse than just an embarrassing article on her.

“I’m with her on this one.” Michelle said, seating herself beside Helen on her bed. “I know you’re hurting, but really, do you think that bitching at them would make you feel any better? Because I don’t.”

“I’ve lost him, Michelle.” Helen sighed, wiping her tears off her face. “My dark angel is gone. Nothing can make me feel any better.”

“Dark angel?” Michelle squinted at her. “You called him that?”

“Yeah,” Helen gave a sad snort. “Why are you asking?”

“Never mind,” Michelle waved her hand in front of her face, tearing her gaze away from her friend.

“What is it?” Helen put a little force in her voice.

“You’ll hate me if I say,” Michelle stated emphatically.

“That’s not possible,” Helen claimed. “Come on. Tell me.”

“Alright;” Michelle drew in a sharp breath, turning to her. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, though. There is…” She faltered. “… this really, really great song by Evanescence. It’s called ‘My Heart Is Broken’. It mentions a dark angel and…”

“And?” Helen waited for her answer with bated breath, but Michelle spoke no more. Instead, she reached down and pulled Helen’s laptop closer.

“Again, please don’t hate me for this.” She spoke, her tone low, as she furiously hit the keys. “Here it is.”

A melancholic piano introduction, along with a majestic female voice filled the air, as Michelle pressed the “enter” button, one last time. The first lyrics sent chills down Helen’s spine. She had never been a fan of power chords; yet, in this particular song, they lured her in. Amy Lee’s voice spoke to her soul, as Marcus’s smiling image flashed through her mind. And, when she heard the chorus, she discovered why Michelle had kept her mouth shut. Helen dropped her face into her hands, letting a river of tears pour out of her, as wave after wave of emotion swept over her…

I will wander 'til the end of time, torn away from you

I pulled away to face the pain

I close my eyes and drift away

Over the fear that I will never find

A way to heal my soul

And I will wander 'til the end of time

Torn away from you

My heart is broken

Sweet sleep, my dark angel

Deliver us from sorrow's hold

(Over my heart)

I can't go on living this way

But I can't go back the way I came

Chained to this fear that I will never find

A way to heal my soul

And I will wander 'til the end of time

Half alive without you

My heart is broken

Sweet sleep, my dark angel

Deliver us

Change - open your eyes to the light

I denied it all so long, oh so long

Say goodbye, goodbye

My heart is broken

Release me, I can't hold on

Deliver us

My heart is broken

Sweet sleep, my dark angel

Deliver us

My heart is broken

Sweet sleep, my dark angel

Deliver us from sorrow's hold

“How could I have been so stupid?” Michelle whispered, pulling Helen into a side hug. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Sweet sleep,” Helen sniffled, holding onto her friends arm, as her body shook. “God, I miss him so much…”

“Let it out,” Michelle encouraged, kissing her on the top of her head. “Let it all out.”

“I shouldn’t have told him to go back to New York.” Helen said, her voice broken, as her tears soaked her friend’s skin. “He’d still be alive…”

“… And on the run.” Michelle murmured, “Just like you. Don’t think like that. He did what he had to do to keep you safe.”

“Yeah,” Helen sighed, easing out of Michelle’s embrace. “Look where it’s got him.”

“If you weren’t grieving, you and I would be having a serious argument right now.” Michelle grumbled, stepping out of bed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Helen asked, rolling her gaze up to meet hers.

“You have no right to think like that!” Michelle yelled, pointing down at her. “The man made his choice and that choice was to protect you. Are you telling me he wouldn’t have gone back to New York, if you hadn’t asked him to? Because I don’t believe it. You have no right to feel guilty about this, Helen. You just don’t.”

Upon finishing her rant, Michelle turned on her heel and stormed out of Helen’s room, leaving her puzzled friend feeling even worse.

Nice going, Helen. You’ve managed to anger her. Why? Because she thinks exactly the same thing you told him in that motel room. You said you made your choice. He did as well. You’re right, Michelle. I’m just in too much pain to think straight…