Chapter 36
Ethan
My hands slipped into my pockets, my breathing tight. I blinked against the sting in my eyes.
“You were my person,” I whispered. “I don’t think I ever said that.”
I moved to Jenny’s stone next.
“Hey, Jen,” I murmured. “I’m trying with Lily. I hope you’d be okay with how we’re doing things. She misses you both. She doesn’t say it much, but… she does.”
The wind stirred the grass around my shoes.
Then I looked back at Matt’s marker again. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here before. I’m sorry we didn’t get more time.”
“I miss you,” I said simply. “More than I let myself think about.”
It was the truth.
And the truth hurt in a way that didn’t need any help from theatrics.
I crouched down, brushed a few pine needles off the stone, and stayed there for a minute with my head bowed.
It felt like a knot inside me loosened.
When I finally stood, Dad stepped forward and rested a firm hand on my shoulder.
“You ready?” he asked.
I nodded.
He gave my shoulder a quick squeeze before letting go. We walked back to the truck the same way we came, quietly, side by side.
As Dad started the engine, he glanced over at me.
“Let’s get some food,” he said.
“Yeah.” I said.
I looked out the window at the pines blurring past.
It didn’t fix anything. But strangely, I felt better.
Facing it was enough for now.