“Then collapse, Shay. I'll be there when it happens. I'll be by your side when the pain is strong, and I'll be by your side when it's silent.”
My throat tightened. A tear rolled down my cheek, and I let it flow.
“There are no words,” he added. “Not for this kind of pain. But perhaps the consolation, however small, comes from knowing she is still there. In the most beautiful flowers, the brightest rainbow, the sweetest plum tree, and the way the sun rises… Even if the world doesn't deserve it.”
I rested my head on her shoulder. She didn't move.
And for the first time in days, I gave in to uncontrollable crying. There was no cure. No solution.
Just two women in a silent room, loving a girl who would never walk through that door again, but would always be everywhere we looked.
If you liked this story, here's another: For years, I believed my marriage was solid. Then his brother showed up at my door with a truth so shocking that it changed everything I thought I knew about my marriage. He taught me to trust my instincts.
This work is inspired by real people and events, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not guarantee the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided "as is," and the opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
