My child.

Everyone called him a hero, but I would have traded every kind word to hear him call me “Mom” one more time.

The morning after I buried him, someone knocked.

I recognized Chloe, Julian’s former classmate.

Beside her was Nora, freshly discharged, clutching a stuffed rabbit.

I forced myself to smile.

“Hi, girls.

I’m sorry, but I’m not up for visitors.

Julian just passed away.”

Chloe covered her mouth, but a sob escaped.

“I never wanted to tell you this, but… after what Julian did, I can’t let you keep living a lie.”

My fingers tightened around the doorframe.

She pulled a creased paper from an inside pocket and looked me in the eye.

“Your son never told you the truth about why he saved Nora, did he?”