gray and cold, a fitting backdr
e one I wore to weddings
black dress. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but whether fro
f store-bought carnations from the table
ded, unabl
ry in our old, rattling car. The si
with some teachers and our elderly neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, wh
t sat above the open gr
the minister's words. My gaze kept drifti
e ground, Jessica stepped forward, pla
stand beside me,
er pho
of annoyance on her face before
ression changed. A flicker of concern
y from the graveside, moving towards he
, a cold drea
"What? A terrible migraine? Is he okay? Oh, th
hurried back, not to
ke. Ethan called. He's really sick.
ven look at
voice a hoarse whisper. "
eds me," she said, already opening
ne, and in her haste to leav
tiful arrangement of flowers Mrs. Henderson h
ooms were crush
e just sped off, leaving me st
s burial for her lo
asual cruelty, hit me har
they lowered Alex's c
e from my legs. The gray sky seemed
. Gone. And I w