Faith looked so happy in that thin cotton dress,

gentle breeze blowing through her hair.

Fred looked happy too, his hand splayed on

her hip, her arm draped around his neck.

They looked like the picture-perfect family with young

Charlie and Emily playing joyfully at their feet.

She remembered the day the photograph was taken as if

it was yesterday.

But there was no sun yesterday. There was no

vacation, no family picnic.

Instead, Fred screamed, Emily cried, Charlie hid

in his room.

And now, all she's left with is the memories of happy

times.

It makes leaving that much harder.