365 days. One year. It has been one entire year since the tragic death of Jason McCann's wife. Her life ended quickly, leaving those behind her to suffer. Beatrice Preston was a school teacher. Her death did not only pain her students, but her coworkers, her family, and her friends. Beatrice lived in peace and harmony. Her relationship with Jason was strong, everyone envied them. Their marriage was built on trust. They relied on each other. They felt like they were too young for a child, so they put their love in their dog, Casper. Her death changed Jason, but not for the better.

******************
It was a Saturday night. The two were off at a party. Music pumped loud, they could feel the vibration through their feet. The house had the strong aroma of alcohol. Jason managed to crack open a case, chugging away. Alcohol was not something he had recently, he missed its taste. Showing off his 'skills' he took two bottles, chugging them all at the same time. He repeated this scene many times, before everything would seem hilarious, before he was drunk.

"WOOO!" a drunken Jason screamed, running for the crowd for people. Beatrice never had an eye for the poison water. Her strict parents had taught her well.
It was around 3 am before they decided to leave.
"I want to drive," Jason reached for the door, his body wobbling.
"No, Jason, you're not even stable enough to stand straight," she scoffed, pulling his hand off the handle.
"Yes I am!" he attempted to stand still, only to trip over his own feet, and stumble.
"No, do you want to get yourself killed?" Beatrice became slightly frustrated with the man, she hated seeing this side of him.

“As you please,” he sighed, furrowing his eyebrows. He made his way to the passenger seat.
A smile of relief grew on her face.
The two got in their car and proceeded home.
Jason reached over to pinch his wife’s cheek in admiration.
“You’re so cute,” he scrunched his nose, “even at 3 o’clock in the morning.”
“You’re so drunk,” Beatrice laughs, playfully punching his arm.
“I know, but I still love you.”
They drove in silence, but it wasn’t long before Jason broke it.
“Tris, be careful,” Jason shouts, pointing at something Beatrice couldn’t make out. She assumed it was just a side effect from the alcohol. However, it wasn’t.
“Jason, it’s okay,” she takes a hand off the wheel to silence him by placing a finger upon his lips.
The last thing Jason saw was a bright light piercing through the driver seat window, but it was too late to scream.

“We’re losing her!” a voice screams, followed by a loud beeping sound. A flatline.
“Clear,” another voice states, with an electrocuting zap short after.
The commotion settled, there was one thing Jason could hear. Beep. Beep. Beep. A heart rate monitor.
Jason blinks, turning to see Beatrice beside him like every other morning, but she wasn’t there, and this wasn’t their bed. He was in a hospital. Pain was all he was able to think about. Something was wrong, he could feel it in his gut.

A lady with skin the color of faded tea appeared at the foot of his bed. She was a nurse
“Mr.McCann?” Her voice was lovely and gentle.
“Yes,” he replied weakly.
“Are you aware of what’s happening?” Her face was weary.
“Where’s my wife?” Jason got up in an upright position, seeking for her.
“Mr. McCann, I need you to stay seated,” she paused, as if she didn’t want to continue.
“Where is she?!” He raises his voice, also raising his heart rate, the beeping began to irritate Jason, “TURN IT OFF.” He hits the screen.
“Please, sir, please calm down,” she grips his arm. Soon enough, other nurses come rushing in, holding Jason down.
“I am not a mental patient, let me go!” Jason wailed, jerking out of place, but then the reality hit him.
“She’s dead, isn’t she?” Jason came to realization, and calmed down, his voice lowered, almost at a whisper.
The nurses release him from their grip, and the lady in white nodded.

“It’s all my fault.”
*************************

Jason suffered a deep depression shortly after her death. He drowned his sorrows in alcohol and cigarettes. Those things made him feel good, for a little while. He often took long walks, it leaves him alone to think. His sorrow thoughts suffocated him. Everything he saw reminded him of her.

Jason disappeared from public occasions, it only reminded him of the night it happened. Tears would build around the rim of his eyes every time the thought of her crossed his mind. This made Jason seem like a weak man, but he wasn’t. Suicide crossed his mind, but he knew he didn’t deserve to be relieved of the pain he was feeling. He owed it to her.

Jason was taking Casper for a walk, deep in the forest. Today was the day she died, it hit him hard. He had to take a rest under a nearby tree because his hands grew numb, and his mind had failed him.
“You’re the only thing I have left of her,” he gripped Casper’s leash, “I miss her.”

His eyes grew misty. He hugged his knees tightly, he constantly told himself everything would get better. It didn’t.

There was a piece of broken glass near by, Jason picked it up, squeezing it as hard as he could. It was the closest thing Jason had to comfort, pain. She was his drug, and she kept him sane. Blood dripped down from his hand, onto Earth’s soil.

“I killed her,” he watched the blood run down his wrist, “it’s all my fault.”
The two continued through the forest, when suddenly, something stopped them. They realized they were lost in the deep forest. The night began consuming the once blue sky. They gave up after hours.

There it was. It sat there ever so gracefully. A harp. The beautiful instrument was so misplaced, but it’s beauty was a guarantee. It drew them in. Easily, they crossed the river, to the throne of which the harp sits. He was mesmerized.

      He reached his hand to touch the instrument, but he came to an abrupt pause.
     “Jason?” He heard a voice. A familiar voice he longed for. It was Beatrice.
      “Tris?” He turned around to face an empty forest, the roar of the river was loud.
      Looking down at his reflection in the water, he saw another. It was her. He kneeled down, he couldn’t believe what was before his eyes.

      In the reflection, Beatrice was right beside him, hugging his arms tight. Jason was confused, he looked at his arm, seeing nothing, feeling nothing. She only existed within the reflection.
“I’ve missed you,” she cried, holding him tighter.
She leaned over, pecking at his lips. Jason brushed his fingers across his pale lips.
“I’m so sorry,” Jason looked away, burying his face in his hands.
“What are you sorry for? You seem so sad. Smile for me,” She grinned weakly, pulling his cheeks to shape his mouth.
“I would, but you’re not real,” Jason leaned to touch the water’s surface. The reflection bounced, the images of the two became blurry.
For a while, she was silent.
“But, I can be,” she whispered, clenching his hand, “run your fingers across that harp, and take my hand, and I will become yours once more.”

“Whatever you say, my love,” Jason was drunk in love. He left her, feathering the harp. It made such a beautiful sound, like nothing he’s ever heard before.

"Take my hand, and together we will go," she smiled. Her smile was beautiful. Jason reached the water pulling her hand, squeezing it tight. They were together once more.

Twenty four hours later, California police found Jason McCann's body, drowned in a shallow river. When he was discovered, his fists were clenched and he had a slight smile on his face. His deceased dog was found near by. Many believed Jason McCann was a crazy drunk, and killed himself, along with his dog. The harp that was reported was never found. Legend says the Harp was a godly gift to the human world, it allowed sad human souls to be happy once again.365 days. One year. It has been one entire year since the tragic death of Jason McCann's wife. Her life ended quickly, leaving those behind her to suffer. Beatrice Preston was a school teacher. Her death did not only pain her students, but her coworkers, her family, and her friends. Beatrice lived in peace and harmony. Her relationship with Jason was strong, everyone envied them. Their marriage was built on trust. They relied on each other. They felt like they were too young for a child, so they put their love in their dog, Casper. Her death changed Jason, but not for the better.