A Sky Full of Absence

The following day, I carried my son's ashes to the cemetery we picked out for his burial.

Elias was not in the know.

To me, he was the one who drove our son to his death. I would not let him sully the quiet dignity of his final rest.

I never imagined I would bump into Elias and Jeannie at the cemetery, of all places.

"Elias, where do you think Daisy should be buried? They say if you give a pet a proper send-off, they're happier in heaven. We've got to choose the perfect spot."

Jeannie clutched the urn, chattering away.

I had no intention of engaging with them, but then Elias caught sight of me.

He scrunched his forehead, annoyance flashing in his eyes as if I were a stain he could not scrub away.

"Why are you even here?"

Elias had mentioned to me that Jeannie's dog had passed away, so he figured I was there shadowing him.

Talking was the last thing I wanted to do, so I spun on my heel to leave.

Jeannie, though, put on her best damsel-in-distress look and blocked my path.

"Noelle, my little pup I've had since it was just a ball of fluff, died yesterday. It was like family. I was so heartbroken, I had to call Elias. He's just here to help me say goodbye to it, don't hold it against him."

I could see through Jeannie's performance like glass. I never called her out before, out of respect for her job at Elias's place. However, I was out of patience. "What do you expect me to do, light candles?"

"Noelle, why talk like that? Why the edge?"

Elias stepped between us, shielding Jeannie as if I were some kind of monster.

Once upon a time, that would have torn me up inside, and I would have fought back. However, now, I just wanted to cut all ties.

I turned my back, leaving his words hanging.

Jeannie pulled at Elias's sleeve.

"Elias, let's go see the grave, okay? Maybe Noelle's just worried about you."

However, Elias, for once, did not play into Jeannie's hands. He softened his voice, a rare thing for him.

"I messed up on Luis's birthday, I know that. I'll make it right with Luis, and I swear, nothing is going on with Jeannie. Can you just stop being mad at me, please?"

He must have thought I was green with envy, throwing a fit, so he dialed down his pride to make amends.

If that were the old days, I would have melted and let it slide.

However, the one Elias really owed an apology to was gone.

I'd never forgive him. That was what I kept telling myself.