rom teaching history at the local high school, my bag full of ungraded papers on the American Revolu

go, Mom!

a major soccer tournament in Orlando, Florida. It was a week-long trip, and her co

, trying to keep my voice calm. "And it's

t important tournament of the

ady loosened. He was always the fun one, the one who could charm his way

ll this,

ournament in Orlando!" Maddy wailed,

el Hill. Our life was built here, in this quiet North Carolina suburb, a life centered around our careers and our daughter. He was the char

about it," he said softly. "It

is this Sabrina, anyway? She just

e's the best coach e

ner, she sulked in her room, she cried at the drop of a hat. Matt kept trying to mediate, telling me it would

word tasting like

er arms around my neck. Matt beamed,

u, but I have that critical project at work. The

s ambitious, and his job was demanding. So I booked the flights and the hotel

ired than I could remember being. Maddy was in her element, running around with her teammates, her eyes shin

e got back to the room. Maddy was still buzzing with energy, b

me. The room was dark, but the balcony door was slightly ajar, a sliver of moonlight c

as whispering into the smartwatch on her wrist, a f

irst, just hushed tones. I moved close

ly, her small voice cu

e to fly back tomorrow. You need to make sure all h

They floated in the air, nonsensical

ation, it was a physical force that hit me in the chest, knocking the air f

t. The reason he couldn'

k. He was at our