The Birthday That Buried Us
She didn't dare say another word.
Mike stepped toward me again, reaching for my hand, but I shoved him back.
In the scuffle, something slipped from my pocket and fell to the ground.
A death certificate.
Mike bent down to pick it up, but I snatched it before he could.
Still, he had already seen it.
The light in his eyes went out.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor.
His breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes growing red—until, finally, his tears broke free.