The little balcony.
The damp towels.
The sand in Noah’s shoes.
The blue shirt I had bought but never worn.
And above all, Claire’s words.
“Everything is so much easier with you.”
I knew she hadn’t said them to hurt me.
Somehow, that made them hurt even more.
Because sometimes the most painful words are the ones people say without thinking.
The following morning, my phone vibrated at eight o’clock.
It was Claire.
Her message read:
“Mom, can I call you tonight? Not to justify myself, but to listen to you.”
I read it several times.
Then I replied.
“Yes. Tonight.”
I spent the entire day pacing around my little apartment.
I dusted furniture that was already clean. I moved Noah’s little stone three times.
First, I placed it beside Bernard’s photograph.
Then I put it on the windowsill.
Finally, I returned it to the small table where Bernard’s picture stood.
