The Next Chapter
Familiar grounds felt warm on his skin; these never had before. Funerary services for his almost-son had felt like nothing he'd ever experienced: not sad, like those for his fallen friend, rather… hopeful.
A gentle touch; the little girl stood beside him still.
"Brother's not dead, though."
He smiled as tiny fingers squeezed his. "This grave is different." He turned to her. She resembled them both: her father's euphoric grin, and the pulsing verdure of the other child's youth. Both of them gone, and yet…
"Time to go." She smiled beautifully, as always.
And they all moved on, as always.