She was gone for ten minutes, maybe longer. When she returned with a paper cup filled with water, Christian noticed his mother was happier, her face clear and dry of tears.
“Did you go up to see Aunt Betty?” she asked, handing him the cup.
He sipped at it, his hands trembling. “No, I’m scared,” he said, thanking her and handing the cup back to her.
“Why are you scared, young man?”
“I don’t want to see Aunt Betty dead.”
Lori sat down beside her son and draped an arm over his small shoulders. “Does death scare you?”
He nodded.
“Death shouldn’t be scary to a child.”
“Will I die?” he asked.
“Everybody and everything dies one day.”
“I don’t want to die.”
“You’re not going to, not for a long, long, long time. Just be happy, Chrissy. Enjoy life. Every day.”
“Will you and Dad die?”
Th
