Waking from a dreamless sleep … eyes open … sun shining …
….. And the sharp pain of loss slams into an emerging breath.
….. But it was what I had to do, He thinks.
….. But I believed, She thinks.

In those first few moments.

When joy is all around.

Before memory returns.

Total loss … and devastation … take away any hope of a calm breath.

And the tears begin.