Only Time Will Tell

Prologue

A memory Charlie is recollecting

There I am, sitting beside my mother’s hospital bed, holding her hand.

The emotions I had felt that day came barreling forth as I suffered through the pain of losing her once again.

Slamming into my chest, taking my breath away, the weight more than I could bear.

The loss I felt when she passed hit me full on again as I relived those last few moments with her.

My father and grandmother had just left the hospital, and now I was alone with my mother, the woman who was a constant in my life and bore witness as the cancer claimed her, taking this amazing woman away from me.

The worst part was that there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to help take away the pain, let alone save her.

The ache in my chest increased with every beat of my heart, as I clutched my fist to my chest, in a feeble attempt to relieve it.

But why had my brain chosen this moment to relieve that painful memory?

Alex.

I must get back to Alex.

Reaching into my pants pocket, I slid the watch out, depressing the pin and shooting out a prayer that it takes me to him.