Between Love and Lies

12:15 a.m

The doors hissed shut behind Dr. Patel. Silence hit the waiting room.

Detective Morgan moved first. “Mrs. Reeves?”

Dan stepped between them. “Not now, Detective. My client hears about her husband’s condition before she answers anything. That’s the law.”

Morgan’s jaw tightened. He stepped back. Officer Reyes was already on his radio.

Sharon sat. Her hands were numb. “Val, what was that look on his face? The doctor.”

Valerie didn’t answer. She just held Sharon’s hand tighter.

The double doors opened, not Dr. Patel. A nurse with a clipboard. She went straight to reception and started typing.

Dan moved. “I’m Barrister Nash, counsel for the Reeves family. I need an update on Michael Reeves.”

The nurse looked up. Saw Dan’s suit. Saw Morgan behind him. Her face went blank. “Dr. Patel will speak to the family when he can. I can’t”

“Can you tell me if he’s alive?” Sharon’s voice cut through the room.

The nurse swallowed. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Only the doctor can""

The doors slammed open, it wasn't doctor Patel but it was James

He wasn’t walking. He was running. Scrubs. Hair messed. Eyes on Sharon.

“Code,” he said, breathless.

“OR 3 called a code five minutes ago. I heard it overhead.”

Valerie made a small sound. Every nurse in the area froze.

James dropped to his knees in front of Sharon’s chair. “Sharon, listen. A code doesn’t always mean”

“Dr. James,” Morgan warned. “You were told to stay off this case.”

“I’m not on the case,” James snapped, not looking away from Sharon.

“I’m off-shift. I’m here.”

Dan put a hand on James’s shoulder. Firm, not unkind. “Doctor, if you can’t help, step back. You’re not making this easier.”

James looked up at Dan. Two men. Same goal. Different roles. He stood. Slowly. “I’m sorry,” he said to Sharon. Then he walked to the theater room

One minute. 12:17 a.m, another. 3:18 a.m.

The doors opened.

Dr. Patel, no mask, surgical cap damp. He walked straight to Sharon. Didn’t look at Morgan or Dan or James. Just her.

“Mrs. Reeves,” he said, Voice tired.

“I’m sorry.”

Valerie’s grip turned white.

Dan closed his eyes for half a second, opened them. All lawyers now. “Time of death, Doctor?”

“12:15 a.m.,” Dr. Patel said quietly. “We lost him on the table. Blood loss was extensive. We did everything we could.”

Sharon looked at the clock. 12:20 am.

Got it — fast-forwarding the legal side. Straight to the sentence.

After that, everything moved. Not fast. Not slow. Just inevitable.

Dan got Sharon out of the hospital that night without cuffs. “Voluntary questioning,” he told Morgan.

"My client says nothing until I do.”

At the station, she said nothing. Dan did all the talking. Self-defense. History of abuse. Hospital photos of old bruises she’d never reported. The saw was found in the kitchen sink. Michael’s prints on the handle. Hers too.

The detectives built their case. The DA called it manslaughter, not murder.

“Excessive force in self-defense,” the file read. Dan fought. Entered a plea of not criminally responsible due to battered woman syndrome, Psych eval, Court dates, Postponements. James showed up to every hearing. Never spoke. Just sat in the back. Watching.

Valerie never left her side.

Six months of motions, media, and midnight panic attacks later, they stood in front of Judge Keller.

The courtroom was cold. Sharon wore a navy dress Dan bought her. No blood on her hands anymore. Just scars.

“Mrs. Reeves,” Judge Keller said, reading from the bench

“the court acknowledges the prolonged abuse you suffered. The court also acknowledges that taking a life, even in defense, carries consequences. On the charge of manslaughter, this court sentences you to one year in state prison, with credit for time served in pre-trial counseling detention. You’ll be eligible for parole in eight months.”

One year, the gavel hit.

Valerie sobbed. Dan put a hand on Sharon’s shoulder. “It’s the best we were going to get, Shar. You’ll be out in eight months. You survived him. You’ll survive this.”

Sharon nodded. Didn’t cry. She looked past Dan, to the back row.

James was there. Standing now. Hands in his pockets. He didn’t smile. Didn’t nod. Just met her eyes.

The bailiff came. “Mrs. Reeves.”

For eight years of Michael, she could do the math. It was almost fair.

As Sharon was on her way to the prison with handcuffs, James ran behind her, Sharon turned to see who was running after her, behold it was James

"Sharon, am in this with you together, I would wait for you till you return"

As Sharon was on her way to the prison with handcuffs, James ran behind her. Sharon turned to see who was running after her. Behold, it was James.

“Sharon, I'm in this with you together, I would wait for you till you return.”

He was shouting, his face red, two officers holding his arms so he wouldn’t reach her.

Sharon wanted to say something, but the officer pulled her chain and said walk. The van door shut and the last thing she saw was James standing there, not moving, just watching her go.

Prison was nothing like TV. It was quiet and slow. The food was bad. The lights were bright all night. Sharon’s cellmate was a woman named Dee who snored and minded her own business.

That was good, Sharon didn’t want to talk. Visiting day was Wednesday, Dan came first. He talked about the case and the appeal and said stay strong. Valerie came second, she cried every time and held a tissue to her nose and said it’s not fair. Sharon asked about James once. Valerie said he was sad and worked too much and told everyone he was waiting. Sharon believed her.

By the third month, Valerie looked different. Her hair was new. She wore a dress Sharon had never seen. She smiled more.

"You look happy Valerie"

"Yeah, I started a therapy and it's helping me alot and I made a friend there"

"What is the name of the new friend"

Valarie looked at the table and said

"It's just a guy, no special thing about him, Sharon let go of this it's nothing girl!"

At five months there were still no letters from James. Not one. But Valerie wrote every week. Long letters about her new job, her new cat, and her new friend again.

"He’s a doctor too, can you believe that?"Valerie asked

"He also knows what it’s like to lose someone, we talk a lot and it's s nice to laugh again. I hope you don’t mind"

"Nah, I want you to be happy, Sharon, your happiness gives me strength, you are my best friend and only supporter so you deserve the best"

"Sharon I can't wait for you to get out of this prison, everyone is literally waiting for you"

"Including James" she added

Valerie stammered and tried changing the topic

"Hope you eat.. eat well here "

Sharon became more inquisitive

"I'm asking of James, is he eager to meet me as well, because he hasn't visited for over 4 months now "