“No one openly talked about the accident, which had taken John, and their sons—Luke, Sam and Liam. However, it lingered on people’s tongues like a bad aftertaste. It stuck in the forefront of her friends’ brains like a migraine, and lurked in the shadows wherever she went. Hushed conversations abruptly ended when she approached, and she knew why. She rested her forehead against the steering wheel. The burden of living this lie was heavy. The energy required to maintain the daily facade was beyond exhausting. It had taken a toll. She was bone tired. Soul tired.”