Chapter 14 - The Grave
We visited our parents’ graves together.
Ryan.
Me.
Daniel.
No spouses.
No baby.
Just the three children whose lives they had shaped through love, fear, and lies.
Daniel stood in front of our mother’s grave for a long time.
Then he placed the cassette transcript beside the stone.
“I heard you.”
That was all.
At Paul’s grave, he said nothing.
Ryan did.
“You raised me.”
His voice shook.
“And you loved me.”
He paused.
“But you hurt my brother because you couldn’t stand what he represented.”
Daniel looked away.
Ryan continued.
“I spent most of my life wanting to be like you.”
His eyes filled.
“I don’t anymore.”
I stood between them.
Not touching either.
Then Daniel finally spoke.
“You know what’s strange?”
“What?”
“I thought I’d feel something dramatic.”
He looked at Paul’s grave.
“Rage.”
“Relief.”
“Victory.”
Ryan asked, “What do you feel?”
Daniel shrugged.
“Tired.”
May you like
That might have been the most honest ending Paul could receive.
We left without flowers.
