This is a quote from Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL. “Old man Marley was as dead as a doornail. This must be distinctly understood or nothing wonderful can come of the story I’m going to relate.”

He was a young man, when I met him, with all the promise of many golden years ahead full of the best life has to offer, no matter what obstacles were in his way. Handsome enough, full of good humor and intelligence, high-spirited, with the strength of will, perseverance, and vigor to meet any challenge, always hopeful and dreaming.

How I loved that man. He was laughing sunshine, cheerful, determined, full of spunk and grit. 

Given all that both of us brought to our marriage, it seemed nearly impossible that we didn’t somehow contrive to live happily ever after.  

Yet, hiding out of sight was the worm of death eating away at his soul. What malign influence, what dark cloud, what sly devil hovered relentlessly over him? Why had fate destined him to take such a wicked turn? What invisible force robbed him of joy and sank his heart and dreams into an ocean of turmoil?

To understand how totally a man can be destroyed in this life and the next is quite a tale. I wouldn’t have believed it myself, if I hadn’t witnessed it all firsthand. What part did I play in this tragedy? Perhaps I slowed the descent into hell on earth, a little. And now he has a story that must be told.