prolog

"Believe in love, then our ways will never get lost."

Again and again Samantha heard the last words of the man she had loved for most of her life. It had been one of his favorite sayings and on their wedding night he had given her a small locket with this engraving on it. He had looked deep into her eyes and stroked her cheek.
The thought of this scene made Samantha shudder. Why did it have to happen? You and Chris had been inseparable since high school and just because of one disastrous night should it all be over? That couldn't be true, it just couldn't be true. Everything had started so well that day. It had been their wedding anniversary and they had wonderful plans. They wanted to leave for the coast in the afternoon, where they would spend the weekend. The things were already packed and on time they were on their way.There was an old Joe Cocker song on the radio and the landscape flew past them as they drove quietly down the road.
"Take a rest a little longer, Sam. After all, I want you to be cheerful for the next few days, because we will sleep as little as possible, I promise you." With these words he gave her that charming smile, that dimple appeared on his chin. It was one of the reasons she fell in love with him.
Yawning, Samantha pushed herself into her seat and looked at Chris from the side. He was handsome with his blond hair and distinctive features. That was probably why she had noticed him as soon as they met in the school hallway. Even after 10 years she could still remember it clearly. Even then, Samantha was convinced that nothing and no one would separate her.
But now she had to painfully realize that she had been wrong then. While she was sleeping and in the distance could still hear the tapping of his fingers on the steering wheel, a truck came towards them and Chris was able to avoid it with a lot of effort.Samantha couldn't remember the impact against a mast, only a deep blackness.
When she came to in the hospital, she wasn't sure where she was. Her mother sat crying next to her on the bed and it was difficult for her to hold back her tears. When the doctor finally came and told Samantha about the accident, her first thoughts were with her husband. Even though she was advised that she needed rest, didn't read it until she finally learned the whole truth. About the drive against the tree, how rescue came and that she probably had a great guardian angel. Chris, on the other hand, had been hit hard. He was in intensive care and the prospects were almost hopeless. You would keep him alive, but you couldn't say whether he would wake up. "I want to see him". Samantha tossed the covers aside, resolutely, but was accompanied by a sharp pain.Even though she was lucky, she had some bruises and pretty bad bruises. Still, she insisted on her right to see her husband. The doctor was reluctant to let her go, but arranged for a wheelchair to be used.
When she finally walked into her husband's room, Samantha forced herself to be strong. He would survive and then one day they would be able to catch up on their weekend together. It would be the same, she calmed herself in thought. Next to the bed she heard the beeping of various devices and a hose pumped air into her husband's body.
“Chris?” Her voice threatened to fail. At least a low whisper came over her lips as she carefully reached for his hand. To the surprise of the doctor and the nurses, Chris actually stirred and after a few seconds he opened his eyes. Samantha couldn't believe it, he had made it. From now on, nothing would stand in the way of a new beginning. "Sam?"Chris whispered her name gently. Tears formed in her eyes as she looked at him." "I'm here and I'm fine. Take a rest so you can get well again. I love you." but I'm afraid I won't be with you much longer to show you too. Forgive me. "The pain twisted his face as Chris spoke to her. The effort was evident in him, for every muscle in his face was agitating and his eyes were wide.
"You mustn't say that, you hear, you will live. What should I do without you? We have sworn to be together forever, so you won't leave me either."
A groan came from Chris's lips and his breathing became more irregular. "It has to be, I don't have the strength to continue. Remember that I will always be with you, no matter what happens." He paused for a moment and took another deep breath. "Do you remember what I told you on our wedding night?Believe in love, then our ways will never get lost. I will always be with you. "Then his eyes closed and the devices around them shrieked loudly.
Samantha wasn't sure how it went on. She was pushed aside and the doctor tampered with Chris' upper body. Everything around them began to blend and that eerie blackness came back. The only thing she could still hear was Chris's voice repeating his last words. After that everything was quiet.

The memory of this incident made Samantha burst into tears again. Even though her eyes were already stinging and puffy, these tears did not seal her. She felt empty and abandoned.
The funeral was kept simple and now she was sitting alone on their common bed and could not let her thoughts travel away from Chris. Her family was downstairs in the living room, but they didn't care. Her wish to be alone had also been respected and so she had been sitting undisturbed in this room for a long time.Only when night fell there was a soft knock on her door. Her sister Sharon entered the room and sat next to Samantha. "Most of the guests have left. Only Mum, Dad and I are here if you need us." When she got no answer, she put her arm around her sister. "I know it's hard for you, but I'm always there for you. If you need my help, just say so. We all loved him and miss him. He was a good man." a handkerchief over Samantha's face and tried to calm her down. "We will never forget Chris. He was an understanding and honest man." Only now did Samantha look at Sharon more closely. There was pain and grief on their face too. “Don't forget to say that he was also warm and intelligent.” A slight smile formed on both faces, but it didn't last long. "How am I supposed to live without him? He was my everything." Sharon looked at her perplexed."I don't know, but we'll get through it. He would have wanted it that way. Chris loved you very much, you must never forget that. No matter where you go, he will always be with you."
Although Samantha wasn't convinced, she just nodded and looked silently out the window while Sharon hugged her again, pondering her own grieving thoughts.