Then Sarah went and turned the gym lights down.
Eliza came out of the little kitchen behind the gym, walking very slowly, holding a second cake. A small one. Chocolate sheet cake with fudge frosting. Grant’s favorite. The one he used to steal with his finger when he was six.
“Grant made this one,” she said. “Last night. At two in the morning. After his last shift at the academy. It’s your recipe.”
There was a finger-shaped dent in one corner of the frosting.
Grant shrugged. “Old habits.”
The candles on that little cake weren’t the ones I’d lit at home. Those had melted all the way down while I sat alone at my dining room table, waiting.
These were new. Six of them. One from each of my kids, Eliza said. They’d decided sixty candles was a fire hazard.
And when my children sang Happy Birthday, they sang it loud, and off-key, and completely ridiculous. Jason sang the harmony wrong on purpose. Mark forgot the words in the middle. Grant sang the loudest of all, in his police uniform, with his hand on my shoulder.
And the sound filled that whole gym. Bounced off the bleachers and the basketball hoops and the drooping purple balloons.
The way it used to fill our little house on Wells Street.
I closed my eyes and blew out all six candles in one breath.
Somebody asked me what I wished for. I didn’t tell them. You’re not supposed to.
But I’ll tell you.
I didn’t wish for anything. For the first time in twenty-three years, I didn’t need to.
Lila Hart is a dedicated Digital Archivist and Research Specialist with a keen eye for preserving and curating meaningful content. At TheArchivists, she specializes in organizing and managing digital archives, ensuring that valuable stories and historical moments are accessible for generations to come.
Lila earned her degree in History and Archival Studies from the University of Edinburgh, where she cultivated her passion for documenting the past and preserving cultural heritage. Her expertise lies in combining traditional archival techniques with modern digital tools, allowing her to create comprehensive and engaging collections that resonate with audiences worldwide.
At TheArchivists, Lila is known for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to uncover hidden gems within extensive archives. Her work is praised for its depth, authenticity, and contribution to the preservation of knowledge in the digital age.
Driven by a commitment to preserving stories that matter, Lila is passionate about exploring the intersection of history and technology. Her goal is to ensure that every piece of content she handles reflects the richness of human experiences and remains a source of inspiration for years to come.