"I feel so sad, but I can't cry," Alex said.
Ella nodded. "Me too."
That night, after everyone else had gone to sleep, Hale sat alone in the garden wearing his little dinosaur pajamas and hugging his rabbit plush toy.
He stared at the cluster of red roses. Under the moonlight, the red petals looked dark and muted.
"Grandpa," he whispered, "you said red roses are the most beautiful."
He paused. "I didn't cry today. After crying with Daddy, I didn't cry anymore."
He sniffed. "I've been very good. You said only good children can go to heaven. Grandpa, are you doing okay in heaven?"
A breeze blew through the garden, rustling the rose leaves.
Hale looked up at the stars in the sky. "Grandpa, which star are you? Can you tell me?"
The stars twinkled but gave no answer.
He stared for a long time, then stood up, hugged his rabbit plush, and walked back into the house.
At the door, he turned back to look at the roses one more time. "Grandpa, I'll come talk to you again tomorrow."
