When Time Stopped, Love Was Lost

“My husband, Daniel Carter, was obsessive about time. He had to wake up at exactly 7:05, and breakfast had to begin at 7:15 sharp. Even sex was limited to exactly thirty minutes. The second time was up, he pulled away and left. That day, our daughter had a dangerously high fever, yet he still refused to leave. Every second dragged by. I kept urging Daniel to hurry. But he only ate his breakfast at his usual unhurried pace. "My breakfast has to last a full ten minutes. Besides, children build stronger immune systems when they tough it out a little." I touched my daughter's forehead, which was growing hotter by the minute, and urged him to give me the car keys so I could take her myself. Daniel did not even look up. He slowly adjusted his tie and said, "Then I won't make it to the office by 7:50. Wait five more minutes. That's when I'm supposed to leave." Just then, his phone rang. It was his assistant, Emily Morgan. "Mr. Carter, I twisted my ankle. Could you come pick me up?" His expression changed at once. He grabbed the car keys and rushed toward the door. "I have something urgent to deal with. Call a cab yourselves." The next day, he called and asked why we had not gone home yet. I held my daughter's ashes in my arms, numb with grief. "Our daughter can't go home anymore." And neither could we.”