Over the last couple of years, Louis couldn't find his footing, and his spirit had bottomed out. Dark thoughts of ending it all had even crossed his mind.
Alicia had grown accustomed to fretting over him whenever he went missing, day or night. She'd scour every nook and cranny until she tracked him down, terrified he'd do himself in. Even after he regained his strength, she couldn't shake that habit.
Alicia nudged the guest room door open, but the bed lay empty. She checked the study, but it was just as vacant.
She searched the bathroom, the balcony, downstairs, and even the kitchen. No sign of Louis. Her pulse raced, and her chest thumped as if drums were pounding inside her.
Although she knew he was past those suicidal thoughts, fear still gripped her.
Swinging the door open, she made a beeline for the courtyard. All of a sudden, a massive bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, turning the pitch-black night as bright as day. A deafening clap of thunder followed.
