“The Neighbor Who Gave Us Time”

Suitcase by the door.

Boots lined up neatly.

Two little girls still in pajamas, clinging a little tighter than usual without quite understanding why.

My husband knelt down in front of them, smiling the way parents do when they’re trying to make something hard feel normal.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he said.

Our youngest nodded like she believed him completely.