verland turned damp and empty - as though a curfew had been declared. The death of George Wellingt

to honor him. They brought flowers, offered prayer

mained visibly in shock. She stared at the cold, lifeless body of her husband lying in a c

f her life

he share the weight

the townsfolk gently held her up, doing their best to con

is sympathies to the Wellington family. He spoke warmly of Ge

ernal peace," the priest said. "And may He give str

your mother, Sam. This is the time for you to step up. You'r

the man who carried him on his shoulders and t

ughts s

't picked up tha

e had sta

have turned o

n't feel like

emotion - at least that's what

ed. Maya approached Sam, her eyes heavy with empathy. She understood this pain - she had live

t cry, he rem

e only one left. After their final goodb

ld time clock his father had given him. The ticking grew

ear. Its steady beat mock

burst in

led up inside him. He hurled the time clock at the wall, shouting

intact, lay motio

he city. He checked on Mary, who hadn't spoken

t," he said. "You're the man

dded s

depression. She rarely left her room, barely ate,

uldn't sleep, but he stayed away, afraid his presence would only m

ing. Sam began skipping school to take Mary to her do

later, Mary w

that day, she gave birth to a beau

gles lit up the shadows in the Wellington home. It w

joy didn

cer. She didn't tell Sam. She wanted to protect hi

bravely - but her b

he succumbed

only two

her husband in the Ne