Prologue:
"I'll be home at six, love you!"
Clara kept reading that text from her boyfriend, Danny, over and over again but it was almost eight and he wasn't home yet, and she was getting worried.
"Maybe he couldn't find a cab or maybe the last parent teacher conference ran late." She kept telling herself but as the minutes ticked by she was losing hope.
Clara sat on the couch clutching the throw pillow praying for some sign that he was alright even checking her phone for a new message but nothing.
"Where is he?" She wondered. This wasn't like him. Danny was always prompt and he would've let her know if he was going to be late.
Suddenly she heard a door knock, and her heart dropped. Danny wouldn't knock. But then maybe he forgot his key, she hoped.
She reluctantly opened the door and two officers; a tall pudgy male and a medium height thin female stood there looking grim. She felt sick. This wasn't good.
They flashed their badges before the man spoke first.
"Mam, I'm Sgt. Jones and this is my partner Sgt. Dawson."
Clara grasped the door trying to keep steady, preparing herself for anything.
"How can I help you?" Clara asked carefully.
"Are you Clara Oswald?" Sgt. Dawson asked.
Clara just nodded.
"Do you know Danny Pink?" She asked.
"H-he's my fiancé." Clara's voice slightly shook.
Sgt. Jones sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry to tell you this but Danny Pink was found dead late this evening."
Clara stared at them stunned. No, they were wrong! They had to be! This had to be another Danny! Maybe even a prank from Courtney, right? She refused to believe this!
"No, you're wrong!" Clara blurted.
"I'm so sorry but I'm afraid we're not." Sgt. Dawson replied with regret.
Clara felt her world ending as she fought back tears. This had to be a dream, a bad dream!
But the longer she stood there staring at the officers the more it was confirmed it was all real.
Sgt. Dawson continued,
"Mr. Pink was found a few miles from the school in a wooded area unresponsive," Sgt. Jones
explained. He sighed. "Medics did everything they could to revive him but…" He replied his
voice trailing.
Clara just hugged the door, her heart breaking. She choked back a sob. Her legs buckled and
she nearly collapsed, Sgt. Jones catching her in time as she sobbed in his arms.
He gently helped her inside to the sofa, Clara wept softly trying to compose herself.
None of this made sense. How could this happen? Then dread filled her, how was she going to tell his family, his students?
Sgt. Dawson sat beside her and slowly began asking her questions.
"When was the last time you saw Danny?" Sgt. Dawson carefully asked.
"Today at the school; we're both teachers there." Clara replied softly.
Sgt. Dawson nodded,
"How did he seem, today?"
Clara shrugged feeling drained.
"He was happy, excited," She replied. Clara smiled slightly. "He had just gotten a raise and
his cousin had a baby, yesterday." Clara added softly.
"Did he have any enemies?" She asked.
Clara shook her head.
Sgt. Dawson noticed the Danny's military photo on wall and cleared her throat.
"Was he in the military?" She asked carefully.
Clara slowly glanced at her nodding.
"Yes, why?" She replied.
Sgt. Dawson briefly glanced at Sgt. Jones before looking back at Clara.
"Did you notice if he ever seemed troubled or depressed?" Sgt. Jones asked.
Her head shot up and she frowned,
"No, why?"
Sgt. Jones Sighed heavily.
"Well, an empty pill bottle was found near his body, there's a possibility Mr. Pink may have committed suicide." He replied cautiously.
Clara frowned.
"I'm sorry, what?" She asked stunned.
The officer sighed. "I know this is hard to understand but suicide is common among some soldiers adapting to civilian life and there is evidence to suggest that's what happened here." She explained.
Clara glared at her. How dare she! Danny had his issues, but she knew him and there was no
way he would kill himself!
Clara immediately stood.
"I think you should go, now." She said firmly.
"Miss Oswald, please be reasonable," Sgt. Jones said. "We're only trying to help."
Clara didn't want to hear it. She just wanted them gone.
"I think you've done enough!" She replied angrily.
Sgt. Dawson nodded at her partner.
"Fair enough, obviously, this is a upsetting time for you, She said slowly standing up. "We'll
be in touch." Sgt. Dawson replied politely.
Clara opened the door, her arms folded.
"Thank you for coming." She said softly but firmly.
They nodded and slowly left. Clara slammed the door and just sank to the floor crying feeling hurt and angry.
She glanced down at her engagement ring touching the tiny, delicate sapphire stones across the thin gold band as the tears streamed down her face, remembering Danny's promises and declaration of love to her. Now, it was gone! She slowly lowered her hands in defeat and looked at up the ceiling as if making a silent promise to Danny. It was going to hard, but she was going to prove it even if it took a million years, she would prove Danny did not kill himself!