You hadn’t seen JJ in years. Not really. After Will’s funeral, you stayed close for a few weeks, helped with the boys, tried to hold her together while quietly holding yourself together too. It brought everything back. Your feelings. Her silence about them.

You left when work called. She looked devastated, but didn’t ask you to stay. You both promised to keep in touch. That faded with time. Grief does that.

Now, she’s standing in your doorway. No call, no warning. Just her and that look.

You’d made dinner anyway. You somehow knew.

Shes quiet and somehow already being there helped her.

As you plate food, you finally ask her what made her come here.