The Man at the Cemetery
Chapter 18 - The Man at the Cemetery
On the first anniversary of Rebecca's death, the family returned to the cemetery.
Daniel was nervous.
The last time he had stood there, police officers had been holding him back.
Jonathan noticed.
"You can leave if it's too much."
Daniel shook his head.
"I already left once."
"You didn't."
"I know."
"But it still feels like I did."
They approached the grave together.
Sophie carried white lilies.
Ben carried a small toy rabbit Rebecca had given him.
Daniel knelt.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Sophie touched his shoulder.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Mommy knew you came back."
Daniel looked at her.
"How?"
"Because Grandpa told her."
Jonathan smiled.
Every Sunday, he visited Rebecca's grave.
He told her everything.
School grades.
Lost teeth.
Daniel's terrible cooking.
Sophie looked at her grandfather.
"You tell Mommy about us?"
"Every week."
"Can I tell her something?"
Jonathan stepped back.
Sophie knelt.
"We're okay, Mommy."
Daniel covered his face.
Jonathan looked toward the gray sky.
For nearly a year, he had been waiting to feel something called closure.
He finally understood closure was not real.
Love did not close.
May you like
Grief did not close.
Life simply grew around both.
