If He Had Been with Me, #2
If Only I Had Told Her
by Laura Nowlin
Contents
Jack — One
Overview
Jack wakes to Alexis’s call confirming Finn died in last night’s accident, while Sylvie survives with a concussion. Reeling, Jack goes to Finn’s house and is asked by Autumn’s mother to sit with devastated Autumn as Angelina identifies Finn’s body at the hospital.
Jack reassures Autumn that Finn loved her and was returning to her, offering brief solace as the families begin funeral arrangements.
Summary
At dawn, Alexis calls Jack and tells him Finn died in last night’s accident, while Sylvie has a concussion. Jack initially denies it, then breaks down, seeking comfort from his mother before deciding to check on Finn’s mom, Angelina.
Jack drives to Finn’s house, overwhelmed by the finality of Finn’s absence and memories of their friendship. Autumn’s mother, Ms. Claire Davis, meets him on the lawn, recognizes his shock, and asks him to stay with Autumn while she takes Angelina to the hospital to identify Finn’s body.
Inside, Jack finds Autumn shattered and near-catatonic from crying and screaming. He sits with her and shares that Finn had called him the previous night, ecstatic because Autumn loved him back. Jack insists Finn was absolutely returning to her, briefly easing Autumn’s anguish.
They watch TV in silence, cycling through grief. When the mothers return from the hospital, Jack hugs Angelina and speaks with Ms. Davis on the porch. She acknowledges the cruelty of life, vows they will survive, and notes that funeral arrangements will follow, signaling the next phase of their loss.
Who Appears
- JackNarrator and Finn’s best friend; receives news of Finn’s death and comforts Autumn at Finn’s house.
- Autumn DavisDevastated by Finn’s death; reassured by Jack that Finn loved her and was returning to her.
- Claire DavisAutumn’s mother; steadies Jack, takes Angelina to identify Finn’s body, offers perspective on grief.
- Angelina SmithFinn’s mother; goes to the hospital to identify her son’s body, returns exhausted with Claire.
- Alexis (Lexy)Jack’s on-and-off partner; calls to tell him Finn died and that Sylvie has a concussion.
- SylvieFinn’s girlfriend; survives the crash with a concussion and saw Finn after the accident.
- Finn SmithDeceased; his death drives the chapter. Had just learned Autumn loved him and was returning to her.
- Jack’s motherComforts Jack after he learns of Finn’s death, helping him steady himself to visit Angelina.