Emily was about 13 when Stephen was born and was determined to mother him, Dalen said. He was my smallest baby. Stephen would have been in the fifth grade this fall. He's not going to have a first job or even a paper route, a wedding or a gold watch at his retirement. Her deep-brown eyes awash with tears that trembled for release, she sat quietly, twisting her fingers together.
People are afraid of sadness and grief and they're horrible, horrible feelings.
It's so disconcerting. But they're human emotions. She talks to Stephen. She writes to him in her journal, starting every entry with the number of days and hours since his death. He comes up sometimes.