Prologue

“Why don’t you just give up?”

“...”

It took a few moments for my brain to process what he just said.

“What?”

“Come on, Tom. I know you heard me. Why don’t you just call it quits.” He says in a half joking tone from across the table. “You’ve tried long enough.”

I thought I was just going out for coffee with my best friend after work, but that was apparently too optimistic.

“If you read my latest draft you wouldn’t be saying that, I’ve finally got it all figured out this time!”

He gives me a look of what seems like pity or maybe disappointment, before averting his gaze as he lets out a deep sigh. I can’t help but feel sorry for him, because he would be praising me right about now if he had actually read it.

“Hey, don’t worry about it! I don’t blame you for doubting me. I would probably do the same after fifteen years, but I know for certain that this time I’ve got a hit on my hands. You’ll see when it’s adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster and everyone’s begging for my autograph!”

I pick up my bag and stand up to leave, giving him one last “see you around” before paying for the coffee and walking out of the cafe. What I hadn’t told him was that I was heading straight to the publisher to sell my soon to be best seller.

It was only a few minutes away, but it felt like hours. Finally, standing at the crosswalk in front of the building, I only had to wait for the light to turn green before my dream would be realized. All my efforts will finally be rewarded when I walk through that door for the twenty third time. As the light flashes green I can’t help but jump into a sprint.

Suddenly I hear a loud car horn on my left.

Time slowed to a crawl as I turn my head to the unexpected sound I just heard. What filled my vision was a white truck, much closer than I expected it to be and moving towards me at an alarming speed.

My disoriented mind couldn’t form any coherent thoughts before the metal monstrosity made physical contact and my vision was overtaken by its blinding white paint.