My brother told me I was lucky to be alive.

The car accident I'd been in should have killed me.

It didn't.

We'd always been close and he was right, life was too short.

We were going to live the dream until it all became a nightmare when my brother took his own life.

Nothing was the same any more.

My seachange became a life of self imposed isolation until her....

Autumn was beautiful. She was also my next door neighbour.

She saw right through me. I felt open and exposed to her. We'd both endured tragedy in our lives.

I didn't want her, I didn't want anyone, so why couldn't I stay away from her?