Spoiler alerts ahead: Chapter 24 - Mason Patric, even the dead have duties

I started writing this scene December 21st. Only finishing today, as I mulled in my head what type of person my MC was in the shadow of her husband's death. I also wanted to explore further what sort of man her dead husband was, and why it would be so difficult to say goodbye. Obviously we grieve, but when you've passed from grief to healing, what would prevent a person from moving on? I personally know women who have been widows for years, they've never remarried. 

Since Mason's character died in Afghanistan, it made sense that he would be involved in something that got him killed over and above his being a soldier. If he weren't, well that wouldn't make for very good story telling now would it. 

Mason is the type of soldier committed to protecting people's lives. In the scene where he comes across an opium den, I was thinking of a very specific someone I lost to drugs, and what her life might have looked like if there had been a Mason in her life to come and free her from the throes of her addiction. I chose the setting of an opium den for a couple of reasons. One, is that it's current news. Two, because I was inspired to do so by a setting in Chapter 3 of Shantaram. In that particular book, there is a scene where his main character comes upon a number of children in a slavery type setting. He's unable to do anything about it. He doesn't have the skills or resources to free, and assist the children there. I'd like to think if I were a billionaire, I'd be like Emilia, having the resources behind me, I'd do as much as I could to be a hope dealer on a grand scale.

Oh, and...I did a quick google search for the term hope dealer, and I may need to change that wording. But for now it can stay. With the end of 2020 coming to a close, we don't need to be billionaires to deal hope, all we need to do is care. 

For me, New Years hasn't happened yet (look at me living in the past LOL), so I wish you and yours a new year filled with hope.

Sincerely, 

S.