The hospital cafeteria coffee tasted bad, but I forced myself to drink it anyway. I needed the caffeine. Needed something to keep me sharp while I figured out how to spin this disaster.

Three days. Three days of sitting in uncomfortable hospital chairs, fielding questions from doctors and nurses, maintaining the grieving husband act. Three days of watching Lily drift in and out of consciousness, her face pale as death.

Three days of knowing I'd fucked up beyond repair.

I stared at my reflection ...