Our family was flying on a Make-A-Wish trip for my sick son — halfway through the flight, the pilot said, “Mike, there’s one thing about this trip that you and your parents know nothing about.”

that answer seriously.

I looked away before he saw my face.

For months, my son had asked questions about medicine, blood counts, and whether hair remembered how to grow. Hearing him ask about clouds felt almost indecently beautiful.

He pressed his forehead against the glass as the plane rolled toward the runway.

Outside, a baggage worker lifted both hands continue reading …