Blast From the Past

Lily

My shoulders heave, and I feel like I’m about to puke, but no tears come out anymore. I don’t have any left. I roll over on my bed and stare at the thin streams of warm afternoon sunlight squeezing in through the gaps in my blinds.

Two days ago, at this time, I was out of school early, sitting next to Theresa at her mom’s hair salon, primping for prom. I was holding her hand and laughing. I was complaining about Michaela because Ryan—

The sobs take me again.

He wasn’t supposed to…to…I can’t even think it yet.

Someone knocks on my door. I ignore it. Either Mom will just come in, or it’s someone else, and I don’t want to see them anyway.

The door creaks open. “Hon?”

Mom. I don’t turn over.

“Do you want some lunch?” she asks. “I got another round of condolence gifts, and there’s a platter of ……