Marybeth
There were moments in life that arrived quietly and changed everything. No explosions. No dramatic declarations. No warning. Just a simple realization that the next words out of your mouth would divide your life into before and after.
This was one of those moments. I sat across from Eli at the kitchen table and stared at my coffee long after it had gone cold. Outside, the late afternoon sun painted golden streaks across the yard. Inside, my heart was trying to beat its way through my ribs.
Eli was working on homework. Or pretending to. His pencil moved occasionally. His attention didn't. Every few minutes he glanced toward me. Watching. Waiting. Children always knew when something was wrong. Or important. Or both. I finally set down my coffee.
"Eli." He immediately looked u
