A Shot of Pretty Poison (Pretty Poison Trilogy #3)

by Kelsey Clayton

roll. “Please. I’m a woman. We basically changed the definition of the word fine. No one is ever fine when they say that.”

“You know, there’s a chaplain that has been coming to see me a lot lately. Praying with me and just being a good friend. And the other day, when I officially started hospice, he asked me if I’m afraid to die.”

The lump in my throat doubles in size, listening to her mention the inevitable outcome in all of this. “Are you?”

“No,” she says with a smile. “I’m young, yes, and let’s be honest, it sucks that my life won’t be longer. There are so many more things I’d love to see and do. But the years I have lived, they’ve been so full of love and joy. I’ve gotten to watch my kids grow and even saw one marry the love of his life—something I had given up on, if I’m honest. He never seemed like the type until you. I’ve helped people feel better, and I’ve been there for some during their worst times. I ...

“Well, sure. I’m human, and that’s a very valid fear. But his absence is something I still feel to this day. It fades, but it never fully goes away, even knowing he’s not with us anymore. Losing a love like that leaves an emptiness behind, and no matter how hard you try to fill it or what you try to fill it with, you can’t. It’s a bottomless pit in the center of your heart, formed perfectly in the shape of them.”

“I would’ve much rather dealt with the fear of losing him again than the emptiness of not having him at all.”