I was in Seattle at that time, finalizing a significant deal for my company when my phone buzzed. It was a call from Stacey’s father.

“Abraham, there’s been an accident. Stacey… she’s gone.”

“What? No, that’s impossible. I just talked to her last night!”

“I’m so sorry, son. It happened this morning. A drunk driver…”

His words faded into a dull roar. I don’t remember the flight home, just stumbling into our empty house. Stacey’s parents had already arranged everything. The funeral was over, and I hadn’t been able to say goodbye.

“We didn’t want to wait,” her mother said, avoiding my eyes. “It was better this way.”

I was too numb to argue. I should have fought harder. I should have demanded to see her, to say goodbye. But grief does funny things to your mind. It clouds your judgment and makes you accept things you’d normally question.

That night, after the funeral, I held Luke as he cried himself to sleep.

“When’s Mommy coming home?”

“She can’t, buddy. But she loves you very much.”

“Can we call her? Will she talk to us, Daddy?”

“No, baby. Mommy’s in heaven now. She can’t talk to us anymore.”

He buried his face in my chest as I held him tight, my tears falling silently. How could I explain death to a five-year-old when I could barely understand it myself?

Two months crawled by.