"I'm so sorry. There's been an accident."
Mrs. Grant from next door handed me a lasagna and squeezed my shoulder. "You're not alone, Rose."
I tried to believe her.
At the cemetery, Pastor Reed offered to walk with me to the grave.
"I can manage, thank you," I insisted, even though my knees nearly buckled.
I pressed my hand to the dirt, whispering, "Owen, I'm still here, baby. Mom's still here."
"You're not alone."
***
Five years went by before I knew it.
I stayed in the same house, poured myself into teaching, and tried to laugh when my students handed me lopsided drawings.
"Ms. Rose, did you see my picture?"
"Beautiful, Caleb! Is that your dog or a dragon?"
"Both!" he grinned.
And that's what kept me going.
Five years went by.
***
It was Monday again. I parked in my usual spot, whispered, "Let me make today count," and walked into the noise of the morning bell.
Sara at the front desk waved, and I smiled back, shouldering my bag and a sense of calm I worked hard to fake.
My class was already humming. I handed Tyler a tissue and started the morning song. I like how routine dulled the edges of memory.
At 8:05, the principal, Ms. Moreno, appeared in my doorway.
