Prologue

A solitary figure sat huddled in the sand. A woman’s figure. Her arms were wrapped around her knees as she gazed sightlessly out into the inky blackness of the ocean; a look of resignation and acceptance on her face. Her pink-tipped toes dug into the sand; the cool, wet texture oddly soothing. She closed her eyes as a gentle sea breeze tugged at the wisps of honey-blonde hair that escaped the knot at the nape of her neck. Around her were strewn the remnants of a solitary picnic: a single empty wine glass, a plate of cheese and grapes, and a half-eaten box of chocolate-covered strawberries.

A radio played softly by her side, and she smiled at the irony of the DJ’s song selection. This was one of her favorite songs long before it took on new meaning for her. She cranked the radio as high as it would go, and sang along at the top of her lungs.

An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison, you can't break free

You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name

She filled her glass with wine again, emptying the bottle. She shrugged; she had another two bottles if she needed them. She stood tall and raised her glass. With a sneer, she toasted the moon. “Goodbye, you bastard!” she shouted into the night. A lonely bird answered her shout.

She danced crazily in the moonlight, her hair coming completely loose from its bindings and flowing around her. She spun and danced and laughed and sang until she was so dizzy she thought she’d throw up. Then her legs got tangled together, and she dropped laughing onto the blanket that she brought with her to protect her clothes from the sand. When she recovered from her giggles, she looked up to see a figure off in the distance.

Well hell, she thought, this was supposed to be a private celebration.