Chapter 31

Sunday means no work and I wanted to sleep the entire day, cocooned in the warmth of my blankets. But when I glanced at the date—October 4th—an ache formed in my chest.

Instead of succumbing to the pull of sleep, I automatically decided I had to visit him.

After what felt like an eternity on the bus, I finally got there and started walking the same path then before I know it, I was standing in front of him.

Every year, I would return to this place, driven by a need I couldn't fully articulate. I wanted to forget him, but when this day rolls around, it felt impossible; he always appeared in my mind, a ghost from my past.

I sat down beside him, the coolness of the ground seeping through my jeans. As I knelt before him, I placed a bouquet of blue peonies on his grave. I'd picked them because they spoke of serenity and calm, something I wished he could have experienced.