When an Angel Intervenes

By Jim. Atkisson and Christian Price

Here in the United States, suicide claims the lives of more than ten thousand people every year, but behind this number were individual lives, people with a story.  No story is ever the same.  The reasons and circumstances why  someone chooses suicide areat times left for the grieving survivors and communities to wonder and try to interpet, "Why?"

 

In 1986 I survived a near fatal suicide attempt.  I was sixteen and I was never the same after this attempt.  All of us have a story to share or tell.  Some of us become writers, and write our stories down.  Everyone who fought their personal struggle against mental illness and suicide likewise has a story to tell. When an Angel Intervenes is my story, and if you or know someone who might relate to my story, my story is for you.

 

Bill and Laura are set to embark on what was meant to be a pleasant evening out.  Bill is attending his twenty year high school reunion and ultimately experiences at times a disorienting trip into the past as he rediscovers a gift he was given on a night he intended to be his last.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Bright Dog Publishing
• Release date: Sep 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215978160

Book preview

One Bright Dog Publishing

Copyright

2012

Revised

2022

Dedicated to my pups and furry friends who love with unconditional love.  A love all of us could learn from. Thank you for your devoted friendship, constant companionship, and treasured memories we created over life’s road together.  Communicating your love with your sloppy kisses, wagging tails, and those familiar embraces on those difficult days.  I’ll always remain grateful for those who are truly, Man’s Best Friend.

Foreword

In 2012 someone told me I should write my story.  When an Angel Intervenes is my story.   For personal reasons at the time I decided to write this book under the pen name Christian Price.   The names in the story have been altered, but the story is true.  When an Angel Intervenes is a cautionary tale, a story of second chances, and though the story is raw at times, it was written with sincerity and from my heart as I remembered it happening.  This story could be triggering to some readers.  I felt it had to be written this way, because to tone down this narrative would be to quiet my voice as a writer and lose the story’s seal of authenticity.  This story is for anyone who desires to read it, but to be honest, I had one target audience in mind as I wrote.

I wrote When an Angel Intervenes in 2012.  To be honest, this story was difficult to write.  It was traumatic at times, but until I wrote it, I had no way of knowing the toll it would take to write and relive the circumstances found within.  It took a decade of work on myself as both a survivor and writer to return to my story and revise it, but writing the foreword today, it does my heart good knowing my story has helped people over the years and I’m glad I told it.  In closing, I hope as a writer, my story finds its way to someone who needs to hear this today.

Jim Atkisson

Christian Price

December 31, 2022

Chapter One

Opening the closet door, Bill had a tough time deciding what shirt he should wear tonight with his blue tie.  The weather forecast was calling for snow showers and lows in the twenties.  Bill chose a plain white shirt and shoved aside the other shirts with frustration.  He stood in front of a mirror, anxiously trying to tie the perfect knot, over and over, Bill anxiously fidgeted with his tie.  This was his only tie, but it had served faithfully over the years.  He swore as he struggled with that damn knot. 

Laura loved this tie.  His wife said it went well with his blue eyes and she often reminded him how much she loved his blue eyes.  He pulled out a jacket and checked it for wrinkles before laying it flat across the bed.  Down the hallway from their bedroom he could hear Laura’s hair dryer as she rushed to finish getting ready for their date.  Reaching under their bed, he pulled out a pair of black dress shoes that were coated with a faint layer of dust.  They were rarely used, but it was time to dust them off for his twenty year highschool reunion tonight.  He heard Laura’s hair dryer abruptly shut off.  She was irritated and frustrated as she complained about the time and she was running late and now the broken hairdryer left her with wet hair.

I hear the wet look is back, Bill said as he peeked in the bathroom.

No.  I’m a mess and I’m not going tonight with wet hair Bill.  Please, when Belinda comes over, will you do me a favor and ask her to run back home and grab her dryer so I can finish getting ready?  Bill was broke.  Business was slow and he’d rather not have to ask the neighbor if they could borrow an inexpensive appliance, because at the moment, money was tight and lately his family had to make do.  Please. she insisted.  This was not a question or request.

Okay, he smiled and kissed her forehead.  I’m sorry it's been slow lately, it’ll pick back up soon.

I don’t doubt it, Laura said as she reached for her makeup.  We’ll get through it.  We always do Bill.

Bill felt uneasy about their plans for the night.  His anxiety was palpable and it was weighing heavily on him.  Asking their neighbor for one more favor felt too much and not something he wanted to do right now.  He just wanted the night over, but he felt compelled to go through with it and make an appearance at his reunion.

It had been twenty years since he walked away, certainly enough time to put it all behind him?  It was not a good time in his life and it was probably best to keep that past where it belonged.

From the corner of his eye he saw what appeared to be someone fleeing the scene of a crime.  He saw incriminating evidence in the hand of his two year old son as he ran down the hall with a bright red marker.

Laura!  Brady has a red marker and the cap is missing!

Where did he get the marker from?  Please go see where he was playing with it okay?  I’m running behind and I need a little help with the kids right now.

The doorbell rang.

There she is! Bill shouted from the bedroom as he finished wiping down his dusty dress shoes.

Will you please ask her to bring the hair dryer?

Bill sighed as he finished tying his shoes.

Okay.  He stepped out into the hallway and saw his son proudly brandishing his treasure.  His hands and arms were painted red.  I found where he was coloring.

We’re late.  Can you get a towel and clean him up before we leave?  Bill nodded.  Where did he get the marker?

Bill had a reasonable suspicion where the marker came from.  All he had to do was follow the red lines on the wall, back towards his sister’s bedroom.  Bill sighed.  He’d been doing alot of that lately.  He removed the marker from his son’s hand and led him towards the bathroom when he heard the doorbell ring again.

Can you answer the door?

Bill tossed the marker on the vanity and threw a towel over his shoulder as he headed towards the door.

He could hear Laura ask their daughter if she would put her markers up for the night.  Anna needed some supervision with them and at the minute their home was chaotic.

Anna was busy drawing farm animals on a large sheet of paper clipped to an easel.  Her grandmother enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren with toys.  Despite feeling inadequate right now, he was grateful his children never seemed to go without.  The doorbell rang a third time and before Bill could answer it, Laura asked him if he were going to answer it?  Bill felt like he was getting pulled in so many directions.

When was the last time you checked on Cayden? she asked as he jogged down the hallway towards the front door.  It was quiet.  Their three year old son was too quiet.

I’ll check on him after I get the door, before Belinda gives up and goes home.  The apprehension and