He sat with his wife’s photo, waiting for a son who had already boarded without him

the truth were a physical weight.

— You’re really not coming back?

— No.

His shoulders slumped. The collapse wasn’t loud. It was quiet. Hollow. Inevitable. He stepped toward the door, paused, and whispered.

— They’re going to blame me for this.

— They should, — I said.

He didn’t turn around. He just nodded once, defeated, and walked away.

The silence after continue reading …