“Daddy, why are we in here again?” The little girl tugged at her dads finger as he looked up at the engraving that was in front of him.

“Remember, we’re here to visit mommy.” Kris looked down to smile at his only daughter.

The little girl looked shocked as if she were only hearing the news for the first time. She opened , “Mommy? When will you stop resting and come out of that box? I really want to see your face. Daddy said I look like you.” Kris’s daughter giggled.

Kris couldn’t help but get teary eyed as he heard his daughter speak. “Remember, mommy can’t come out, she’s resting.” He smiled down at his daughter.

He faced the box and traced his fingers gingerly over his wife’s engraved name. He placed her favorite flowers near her name. “It’s been five years now, our beautiful daughter is growing up every day, her fifth birthday is today. Do you remember?” He smiled sadly letting a tear fall.

Kris’s daughter stood there and let go of her dads finger as she started to cry, “Mommy, why aren’t you here? Can’t you see daddy is really sad?”

“Shhhh, it’s okay don’t cry.” Kris picked up his daughter.

“Mommy, is always here with us. It’s okay.” Kris cooed.

After a couple of minutes, Kris’s daughter sniffed, “Daddy can you tell me about mommy again?”

“Of course! Come on let’s go celebrate your birthday.” Kris gave a last look at the engraving with his wife's name as he walked away with his daughter in his arms.

It was a sunny day as he walked with his daughter in his arms. It was the middle of summer. He remembered the memories he shared with his wife and he couldn’t help but smile.

Kris sat on a bench that had memories of her. “Your mommy is the most beautiful woman in the world. Just like you. She loved the summer, that’s when I met her, right at this bench. We were both new employees at the time, you see that store across the street. We both worked there. Kris pointed to the small book store right across from the bench they sat on.

 “We were trying to pay off our loans from college. Daddy was really nervous because your mommy is too pretty. The way she smiled and the way her eyes would close a little every time she laughed.” He smiled to himself as his daughter intently listened to him.

“When I asked mommy out on a date for the first time I was really nervous. I kept fumbling with my words, I was shocked she could even understand what I was saying.” Kris explained as his daughter giggled.

They walked down the street to a small casual restaurant. “You know you and mommy are really alike. This restaurant is also her favorite. This is the same place I asked her to marry me.” Kris looked no where in particular and smiled to himself.

“Your mommy and I were together for two years before we got married. Do you remember what that means?” Kris looked at his daughter.

“Of course! It’s when a girl and a boy put rings on each others fingers because they love each other forever!” His daughter smiled.

“That’s right! Mommy, always got sick easily and it always made me worry. But, mommy is a strong woman. That’s one of the reasons I love her so much. A couple of years later mommy and daddy wanted to have a family to raise. That’s why we have you. But, the doctor said mommy should be careful when she has kids.” Kris tickled her daughter who giggled in return.

He couldn’t tell his five year old daughter that his wife risked her life to have a child.

Later that night as Kris tucked his daughter in bed he saw a picture frame of his wife smiling.  

“How come mommy isn’t here now? Doesn’t she love us?” Kris’s daughter asked.

“Of course mommy loves us. But, because mommy was in pain she had to go somewhere she could rest.” Kris smiled at his daughter as she fell asleep.

END.