I felt a sudden wave of sharp anger before sorrow took over, knowing Gabriel had not even come to see her, yet Mom was spending her last strength protecting him again.

“I promise,” I whispered back, though my lingering resentment made the words taste bitter in my mouth.

Mom closed her eyes and died quietly before sunset, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

After the funeral service, I cooked a fresh pot of beef stew, packed some bread, and drove toward our old neighborhood, carrying the heavy weight of an unwanted duty.

I expected to search the dirty dump or ask old neighbors whether Gabriel still wandered nearby so I could leave the food, tell him Mom was gone, and consider my promise fulfilled.

Instead, a sleek black SUV waited on the curb right outside Mom’s house.