Chapter 1

Saturday, June 22^nd, 2012

Have you ever had a bad day?

And no, I'm not talking about one of those days where you lose a quarter in the pop machine, or just have a day where nothing goes right - I'm talking one of those days where you wake up knowing that it was going to be so wretched of a day, that the best thing you could do would be to pull the blanket back over your head and go back to sleep.

You know what I'm talking about, right?

Well, today was one of those days. As my wife lay sleeping next to me, blissfully unaware, I'm punching this out on my laptop. I've never been one to keep a diary or a journal, but today has convinced me that I should chronicle the next few weeks. I want to leave something, so everyone can understand why I did what I'm going to do.

The day started like any other. I had first shift at the hospital today - Mark had some stuff to do this morning, so I traded shifts with him - so I had to get up early. Five am, up and into the shower, then watch the sun rise as I take the blue line downtown. I could always take the Ferrari, but rush hour traffic in Chicago is a bitch.

Mary surprised me this morning though; the sweetie that she is, she got up with me and made me breakfast. Nothing special, bacon and eggs, but I love the little ways she shows her love for me. I kissed her seductively and grabbed her still firm bottom as I ran out the door to catch the train.

As I cruised out of Barrington at an asphalt eating pace, I found the streets surprisingly empty, so I put the hammer down farther than I should have. As the needle raced across my speedometer, I let my thoughts drift back to when I first met my wonderful Mary. We met while I was still in med school, still broke as hell and living in a hole in the wall on campus. I was running out of my dorm with my vinyl, heading to the club for a night of mixing, lamenting that I wouldn't have enough time to study for my exam. Back in those days though, it was either mix or eat instant ramen - a non-choice in my opinion. I literally ran into her as I was crossing the quad, knocking both of us over and my vinyl everywhere. Me being 6'2" and muscular, her being a 5' petite princess, the result was obvious... I literally bowled her over.

"Are you ok?" I asked her, jumping to my feet.

"I don't know," she replied. "I think I need a doctor."

I smiled, noticing her brilliant blue eyes, and her perfect face framed by a wealth of long golden blonde hair. "Give me a few years."

She looked at me, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I'm currently in the med program here. A few years and I'm done, thank god."

She smiled back at me for the first time. "Running to a medical emergency?" She asked slyly.

"No, headed to the club. I'm the DJ," I replied, then checking my watch. "And I'm late!" I bent down and helped her up. "Can you move everything? Are you hurting anywhere?"

"I think I'm ok. My butt hurts, but I think it'll be ok."

"Well, if you need medical attention later, call 911. Or, better yet, here is my cell phone number - call me." I scribbled my number in her notebook.

"Don't worry, I will."

With that, I ran off to the club, and pulled my car into the last parking spot at the station. I grabbed a copy of the Sun-Times, and swiped my transit card, nodding to Angela in her booth. She had an accident last year as I was entering the station; some wino was pounding on her booth demanding that she should let him ride for free. If the glass hadn't been bulletproof, he probably would have broken it with his blows. As it was, he knocked the fixture above her head loose, and when the bulb fell it shattered, and she was covered in the glass - cut all over and bleeding everywhere.

I did the best as I could to help her right there - comforting her and treating her with the emergency medical supplies I keep in my backpack. Ever since that day she became another one of the many lifelong friends I've treated before, and given them back their lives.