I just wanted clarity. I thought the biggest problem of December would be unfinished shopping or a sick child before the school play. Instead, a quiet phone call from my daughter’s preschool teacher changed everything.
She gently showed me Ruby’s drawing—our family holding hands under a bright star. There was me, my husband, Dan, our daughter… and another woman, taller than me, with the caption “Molly.” My stomach dropped as the teacher explained that Ruby often spoke of Molly, as if she were a part of our lives. I smiled politely, thanked her, and carried the picture home, my hands shaking more than I cared to admit.
