The Certainty (Book Four in The Illusion of Certainty Series)

The Only Certainty Life Brings Is Death

Midway on our life’s journey, I found myself

In dark woods, the right road lost.

-Dante’s Inferno

Strings

Two Strings that keep me live,

Two Strings that keep me living,

How can I cut those?

Even though they’re bleeding?

Killed by distrust, lies and foes

They lay limply by my side

Weighting me down to my own demise.

And even though I know

they will kill me,

How can I cut away those

that kept me breathing?

Only one can live,

Only one can stay,

But how, I ask you should I choose?

When love is what binds,

And only love can kill

Those who gave themselves for me.

I choose to die,

I choose not to live,

If it means those two can leave.

I’ll earn their hatred,

But their rage will ease

When I’m on the other side

Their lives will ease.

- Vindr

~ * ~

Chapter One

“What?”

“Georgie, I’m sorry. They only let me tell you when you got here.”

I got out of bed and walked over to him. “You can’t just tell me that...that means I only have a few days left.”

“I’m sorry, Georgie.”

“Oh my God.”

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in for a tight hug. I was in complete shock. What the hell was I going to do? I hadn’t seen the world yet or the Eiffel Tower. Not that I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower…

“No. No, no that can’t be right.” I pulled back and looked at him. “Ask again. That can’t be right. There’s still too much I have to do.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry Georgie.”

He kissed me on the forehead and then disappeared. I stood there completely stunned. I was still in complete and total shock when Michael knocked on the joining door. I just stood there, unable to move.

“Georgiana?”

Aidan woke up at the noise. He felt for me next to him and when he didn’t find me he sat up, looking around the room. When he spotted me, he could see in the dark, he said, “Ana? Are you ok?”

I shook my head. Michael opened the door and looked in. “The call came in from Lena. She’s on the phone…what’s going on?”

He looked from me to Aidan. I looked up at him, shock still my first emotion.

“I’m going to die before New Year’s.”

“What?” they both said.

“Max…” I pointed at the carpet, “he said…”