Evelyn
It means everything that Alexander just shared my dad’s last words with me, but it means even more seeing the way my mom breaks down, like maybe she’s finally fully accepting that Dad is dead. And if she can accept that, maybe she can find a way to live in a world without him.
I sit up, scooting behind my mom, wrapping my arms and legs around her while she cries. Then I cry with her.
I cry for the loss of Dad, I cry for my mom’s pain, I cry for this whole messy chaos that my life has become.
I look over Mom’s shoulder at Alexander, his face full of sympathy and also a little concern. “Thank you,” I say, so that he knows he did the right thing by telling us.
Alexander nods slowly, his blue eyes shining behind the tears he’s holding back for us. “Would you like some time alone to
