Debbie Newman closed the door of her apartment and leaned back against it for almost two minutes, savoring the memory of the kiss Dan gave her before leaving. Tomorrow he would be instructed to kiss her by the pastor. Then they would be one. They would no longer go their separate ways each night. She could spend the whole night in his arms and feel like this forever. She finally broke free from her thoughts and went to bed. Less than an hour later a ringing phone interrupted the dream.

There were many calls like this one in the last few weeks. This one was from the organist who had called once at just after midnight. She wanted Debbie to verify the list of songs she would play tomorrow. Tomorrow would be the end of the life of freedom Debbie had enjoyed, or so her friends had told her. She was quite ready to give up that so-called freedom for the companionship of a man like Dan. She was not giving up anything. She knew she was getting something valuable. The first thing would be a new name. It would no longer be Debbie Elizabeth Newman, DEN as she had been called in school. She would now be Debbie Elizabeth Bane, DEB. That was the name her father had called her. Her new initials would serve as a reminder of him.

Her father would not be there to give her away. Her mother would not be there to stand and watch her come down the aisle. They were gone, the victims of a drunken driver three years ago. How she hated drunken drivers. One of them had taken so much from her. Due to a legal quirk he went free. Now she had no living relatives closer than one second cousin who lived two states away. Only a few of her friends and his parents would be at her wedding.

Dan was a dream come true. They met in the elevator six months ago and she fell for him. He was handsome, kind, considerate and loving, everything she had wanted. Tomorrow would be a big day. She walked to the bedroom, undressed and fell into bed. In minutes she was fast asleep, dreaming of Dan and her wedding.

Four hours later the phone next to her bed abruptly brought her from that dream. It was Dan’s father.

“Dan was in an accident. He’s hurt real bad.”