my knees shook violently as i stood in front of the microphone, singing the recessional hymn at his funeral mass. i looked up from the music, and saw her face, red from holding back tears she deserves to shed, and i nearly lost it.

he was 38.

he only wanted to watch his children grow up with the woman he married 13 years ago. who dared deny him that? what purpose could there have been that is greater than raising two beautiful children in a solid loving home?