Two weeks after Patrick died, the package arrived through the arrangements made for returning his cremated remains.

The paperwork identified what had been sent.

The outer packaging was secure.

Inside was a soft-blue ceramic urn.

Blue had been his favorite color.

He had once said that if I ever had to choose a coffin, I was forbidden to pick anything else.

“You won’t be around to criticize it,” I had told him.

“I’ll find a way.”