Every Last Breath - Jessica Gaffney Page 0,1

sweat. She grabbed her robe and headed to the kitchen to make some tea, that always warmed her and helped her sleep— that, and a Gaba supplement that eased her anxiety. She used it on and off, though recently she ordered a higher dosage. Something about the holidays approaching seemed to have her on guard again.

This was her third Christmas without Jack, and she was doing fine. Eli was only two when daddy disappeared, and that’s all she told him. Their new house was void of his picture. She went to great lengths to try and sear his conscious from even having a father.

People out west were independent people, but in a small town they also talk. And it’s not often a mother and young child show up in the middle of the night, and rent a home up in the secluded woods. Yet it suited Maggie just perfect. Vala liked it too.

It was a mere Godsend that this rental was furnished and in good taste. She knew the place would be perfect the second she laid eyes on it. Maggie had stopped in town to get a cup of coffee when a flier caught her attention. It read, mountain cabin in need of quiet tenants, some pets welcome. The home was too small for a medium size family, but it was perfect for a family of two.

Eli had plenty of space to run and play; the neighbors were spread out enough that she had her privacy but with only one road in and out of the community, she was easily protected from those who didn’t belong.

Maggie spread out her journal as she sipped her warm tea. The house was warm and quiet, the sun wouldn’t be up for two more hours. Hopefully she could fall back to sleep. She ran through her gratitude list to calm her fears and steady her breathing.

The warm soothing tea made Maggie relax. She flipped through her prior entries, scanning the improvements she had made. When she found an empty page, Maggie scribbled the date, time and any details her therapist may need. The tattered composition book was showing its wear.

At some point, she hoped her heart would heal and life would return to normal. Eventually she would forget what happened and it would fade into the abyss. Maybe then she would sleep through the night. So far, it had been two months and she had nothing more than a few solid hours here and there. Her journal entries proved that.

Secretly she wished she could be more like her clients, they actually had the courage to write something and send it out there hoping someone would read it— anyone. Journaling was not writing. It involved no thought, no order, and no editing. It was an act, like cleaning. A purging of the mind, Maggie paused. Would her mind ever be clear enough to write? While she promised herself not to write about her past life and all that happened, she needed to write. But, fear. Fear said she just couldn’t take that risk.

Claire was the closest thing Maggie had to a sister. She was faithful, trustworthy and had become a great babysitter who had all the time in the world to spend with Eli.

Eli bounced his way through the busy parking lot before letting go of her hand. She smiled as the boy rushed into the giant playland, eager to climb and play before eating his lunch.

Claire held the door open, as Eli rushed past her waving as he unzipped his coat.

“Thanks for meeting me up here.”

“It’s no problem. Joe has the kids. I swear the only reason they see their father is because he isn’t a good father.”

“Where’s he taking them this weekend?”

“Who knows. Probably, wherever Shellie wants to go.”

“Didn’t they go skiing last week?”

“They went skiing, she went shopping.”

Maggie removed her coat. “She married him for his wallet, what can I say? Must be nice.”

“Never mind me, how are you, how’s work?”

“It’s good. A little lonely, but I’m enjoying it.”

Claire studied her. “I don’t know why you don’t just open your own agency. There are dozens of publisher’s right in the Springs. You’d probably make a fortune.”

“I’d be bored. Most of them take inspirational titles where the writing is mediocre at best. I need a big hit, before the royalty dwindles down on my only client.”

“ You have credentials Maggie. You should get your name out there.”

Maggie smiled. “I’ll think about it,” She lied. She didn’t want her name publicly listed. That