Chapter 1: In a moment
Elizabeth sat outside on the steps of the schoolhouse, wrapped up in a blanket. As she adjusted it around her shoulders once more in the cold night air, she caught a glimpse of the diamond that she wore on her left hand. It seemed like just yesterday that Lucas had proposed, and now, just a month later, he lay inside the infirmary fighting for his life. The past had seemed like a whirlwind since they were engaged. Life was good for those first two weeks afterwards. It didn't seem like life could get any better. And then, the Spanish flu hit Hope Valley. It's hard to say where or when it all started, but Elizabeth's world was rocked the moment that Lucas was diagnosed.
Due to the fact that she was trying to be wise around this bug because of not only herself but also Little Jack as well, they had to keep their distance from Lucas. Then, Lucas took a turn for the worse and, for the past week, he had been in the schoolhouse where Faith could keep a better eye on him. A couple weeks prior, the school had closed down due to the epidemic, and it had been converted into a temporary hospital of sorts so more people could be cared for in one place. The news in the past few days had not been good. He had acquired bacterial pneumonia after the flu had attacked his body, making him all the weaker, and he was not showing any signs of improvement. Elizabeth's eyes welled up with tears, and she put her head in her hands and sobbed quietly outside, silently praying to God for a miracle.
At some point, Elizabeth heard footsteps from above her, but she didn't look up. Shortly after, she felt a presence come sit next to her and then an arm wrapped around her. Elizabeth looked up to see Faith's blue eyes searching for hers. There was such sorrow there, and in that instant, Elizabeth knew... Lucas was gone. Elizabeth had no words. She went into Faith's arms and hugged on for dear life, sobbing. This couldn't be happening again.
