Does Death Do Us Part? The Effects Of Death Upon The Living Book by Author Marques Vickers

Marques Vickers’ “Does Death Do Us Part: The Effects of Death Upon The Living” is a collection of eleven short stories. Each narrative stresses profound impressions the loss of a close friend, acquaintance, or relation alters the life perspective of survivor. Written from first-person and third-party viewpoints, each narrative explores the impact loss has impacted on future financial security, intimacy, equilibrium, dreams, and the essential navigation of life.

The Dreams of Yi: A middle-aged woman raised in Mainland China survives three loveless marriages and the enforcement of China’s one-child only policy to discover herself isolated and financially vulnerable in the Pacific Northwest. Her sole obsession becomes to remarry. Her turbulent past coupled by the burden of sorrow-filled dreams inhibits her progression forward. Will she find resolution through love or a fresh union?

Silence Then Surprise: The eventual love of one’s life develops terminal lung cancer ending a promising marriage. Nearing his demise, Candace is unexpectantly surprised by content in his will and a subsequent apparition six months after his death.

Genuine Relationships: A weekend book purchase at an Estate Sale reveals two passionate letters written by an estranged wife to her husband. The mystery behind the source and the inevitable outcome of the writer steers the book’s buyer towards an unforeseeable revelation.

Shortchanged: A young woman loses a lover prematurely who had righted her errant past relationship choices. His shadow plagues her present needs for recovery and sexual intimacy. During an evening date, she faces the dilemma of relinquishing his influence or moving forward with her life.

Unspoken Exchanges: The listener of a wife’s emotional confidence about her husband’s prolonged death attempts to sort out the confessor’s ambiguous feelings regarding religion, the afterlife, and impressions regarding her husband’s possible re-visitation. The conversations a couple never shared distorts her present confession also clouded by encroaching influences.

The Disappearance of Love: A passionate attachment in high school is terminated by the abrupt departure of the young woman to parts unknown. Roaming postcards are followed by subsequent silence. Decades later, her middle-aged friend is haunted by past stories of her whereabouts, disturbing dreams, and a premonition that her prolonged silence may not have been her choice.

Premonition of Death: What if you suddenly developed the ability to foresee an individual’s moment of death? This unexpected phenomenon becomes unnerving to the author who must determine its significance and interpretation towards his own existence.

Reconsidering Simplistic Impressions: An unpleasant encounter with an elderly man spouting bigoted declarations is reexamined forty years later when his wartime diaries are discovered. What influences alter a small town man’s horizon when he enlists into the military and shipped overseas into the vortex of global warfare?

The Summons: An admired and beautiful classmate dies suddenly without explanation nearing her college graduation. Decades later, a series of dream visitations by this classmate disturbs yet consoles the author. Why has he become the source for her summons?

Forgotten: A distant and brief lover is revisited four years after the consummation of their encounter. Her appearance has altered radically and the visitor recognizes the insignificance on his impact on her life.

An Exile in a Foreign Skin: Strong attraction evolving into a fledging relationship is thwarted by an unspoken history and precedent circumstances. A haunted evening further complicates the union. Can these obstacles, cultural differences and language barriers be ultimately overcome to create a healthy and supportive connection?