My Son’s Best Friend Wore a Red Dress

He had asked us whether his hair would grow back.

Whether he could still go to college.

Whether we’d let him travel if treatment worked.

He talked about the future so constantly that I assumed he believed in it as strongly as I needed him to.

But six months before his death, my son had made his best friend promise what to wear to his funeral.

Theo said, « I thought if I didn’t promise, he’d think I was scared. »

He looked at Jack’s coffin.

« I was scared. »