Excerpt: Bedlam

I knew it would come clear to him at one point. He was almost a split personality when it comes to socializing and intimacy. He’s all over the place.
“Mark, just remember you have me. Always and forever,” I said.
“Oh babe, I could never live without you,” he said and leaned to the side to kiss me.

I was lying on the ground about fifty feet from the car. I couldn’t feel my body but I could feel it was cold. I tried to move my head but it hurt too much. I was beginning to feel like a prisoner in my own body when I saw bright light on the left. Then I heard a strong explosion and several pieces of metal were flying through the air above me. I could swear I heard some of those metal parts impaling my body in the process, but I couldn’t feel anything. I repeated the words in my head.
I could never live without you…

***

I sat on the patio and watched the final rays of sun set on the horizon. I thought about Kevin and Mark. I thought about the man on the bridge. Was their life happy? Could there be something good in their fate that made it right for all of them? I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t be sure. The only thing I knew was that I called the “life” an irony.