PROLOGUE

Phoebe watched her boyfriend of five years and fiancé of a year as she walked down the aisle. She was happy that she was finally marrying the man of her dreams. The man she loved with all her heart. She would even go as far as laying down her life for him. But as she got closer to him, she noticed that not everything was right with Jamie. The smile slowly faded from her face, and her heart began beating harder and faster in her chest. Jamie attempted a smile when Phoebe's mother handed her to him, but it came out as a grimace.

Phoebe looked at Jamie again as the priest began his recitations; he was only present in body, not in mind or spirit. She would have to ask him about it during the reception. She hoped that it was nothing serious. Who was she fooling? Of course it was. Anything that took away his peace of mind and happiness at his own wedding had to be serious.

"Jamie Watson, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to protect, to love, and to cherish, 'til death do you part?"

Phoebe almost fainted when he didn't answer right away. She almost died when he shook his head lightly and muttered something under his breath.

"I'm sorry, Phoebe. I…I can't do this…"

"What do you mean? What's wrong, Jamie? Don't you love me anymore?"

Jamie shook his head vigorously and held on to her hand tighter. If not for the current issue at hand, Phoebe would have told him to loosen his grip, but right now, she couldn't even feel the pain.

"Tell me what the problem is, Jamie. We can fix this…"

"I don't know, Pheebs. I have a confession to make…and I don't know if you'll still want to marry such a monster after I tell you what happened…"

"That's for me to decide. C'mon…"

"Not here. Not in front of them…"

Phoebe turned to the priest, who nodded and asked them to follow him. All three ignored the murmurings of the crowd and made their way to the priest's office. The second the door closed securely behind them, Phoebe took hold of Jamie's suit lapels and shook him.

"Out with it. Now, Jamie."

"I'm sorry, Pheebs…"

"For what?"

"He's dead…"