When My Dad Died, I Went Into the Basement He Never Let Me Enter, & What I Found Changed Everything— Story of the Day

My breath fogged the glass, leaving blurry patches where the outside world disappeared.

I wiped one with my coat sleeve out of habit, though I wasn’t really trying to see anything.

My eyes burned, and my hands trembled in my lap. I felt full of something too heavy to carry. Like a balloon stretched too far, seconds from popping.

Then—tap, tap, tap—on the window beside me.

I jumped a little, heart skipping.

It was Caleb.

He leaned down, his kind eyes meeting mine through the fogged glass.

He opened the door carefully, not saying a word at first. Just breathing with me.

“They’re waiting for you, honey,” he said gently, like the words might break me if they were too loud.

I shook my head. “I can’t.

I just… I can’t go out there. Not yet.”Continue reading…