Each year, my son planted sunflowers in memory of his twin sister who passed away—then one morning, we discovered them all cut down, with a white box left behind.

to protect that fragile little spark before anyone could snuff it out.

It lasted less than twenty minutes.

My mother walked in from the yard, saw Patrick holding the photograph, and went completely still.

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

My father came in behind her. He stared at the picture for a long time without saying anything.

By noon, the four of us sat continue reading …