Charlie held the kids

hands as they walked through

the graveyard. The kids were

both seven years old, understanding

that this is a place where sadness

reaps. This is a place that they

don't belong to. This is a place

they don't know anyone.

"Adelina, Theo, this is where your

mom sleeps." Charlie sat down on a small

bench with the kids as they watched

the partially painted gravestone glow.

It stood tall in the middle of two

cherry blossom trees, whose branches

entwined so delicately.

"Our mom? I thought she was away

at her job." Theo furrowed his brows.

"Kids, I have to tell you a little story. And once

I'm done, we will," Charlie pulled out a box of

yellow paint, light yellow, dark yellow, any shade

of yellow possible.

"We're going to finish painting that

gravestone because mom would like that.

She'd love that. Just like how she loves

you two so much."

Charlie told and sometimes stuttered and told,

the story of Azura and him. Of how they met,

of how they passed notes on napkins

with Azura's coffee stains. Of how he hates

the taste of coffee. Of how they helped

each other during the toughest of times. Of

how Azura laid on the hospital bed, holding

them so tightly. Of how Azura whispered I love

you and closed her eyes. Of how Azura was

laid down into the earth as Charlie held the

babies in his arms.

Charlie held the kids once more, to comfort

them when they cried when the truth rung

throughout the land.

Charlie pulled them up and handed them

brushes, taught them how to hold it

correctly and how to mix blue and yellow

to form a beautiful shade of green,

because after all, green means healing,

growth, and protection.

Azura will always protect her family

from the skies above and Charlie will heal.

The kids will grow, knowing that their parents

love them more than any shade of yellow,

green, and especially