Grace, as a mother of two, was always too busy with her daily life to visit her father’s farm. She thought there would be time later to see him, help with the farm, and have those long talks. But her plans were shattered when she realized her father was gone, and all that remained was his old farm.
Grace sat beside her children’s beds, her voice soft and soothing as she read aloud from their favorite bedtime story. Roy and Nancy lay under the covers, snuggling into their pillows, their eyes growing heavier with each word she spoke.
These were the moments Grace treasured the most—quiet, peaceful moments where everything felt right. The world outside might be chaotic, but here, in this dimly lit room, it was calm.
As she finished the last sentence, Grace glanced over to see both children had drifted off to sleep.
She smiled to herself, the corners of her mouth lifting gently. Carefully, she closed the book, taking care not to make a sound that could disturb them.
She leaned over, placing a tender kiss on Roy’s forehead, then on Nancy’s, pausing for a moment to watch their soft breathing.
Before leaving, she cracked the door just slightly, letting a small sliver of light from the hallway shine through—enough to comfort Roy, who was always a bit scared of the dark.
Grace stepped out of the room, her heart still filled with the sweetness of the evening ritual. But as she walked into the kitchen, she immediately noticed something was wrong.
Her husband, Kirk, stood by the kitchen table, gripping his phone tightly.
She could tell by the look in his eyes that whatever news he had wasn’t good.
“Kirk, what is it?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly as her mind raced through possibilities.
Kirk took a step toward her, his expression full of sadness. “Grace,” he began softly, reaching out to hold her hand.
“I’m so sorry. It’s your father… John passed away.”
Grace’s heart stopped. The world around her seemed to slow down, as if time itself had frozen.
Her breath hitched, and suddenly, the weight of the words sank in, bringing a rush of overwhelming pain.
She felt her legs give way as the tears flooded her eyes, and before she knew it, she was collapsing into Kirk’s arms. Her body trembled with sobs, the grief consuming her completely.
“I didn’t even get to say goodbye,” she cried, her voice barely audible as she buried her face in Kirk’s chest.
