Today began with some very hard news. A friend and classmate of Iris’s passed away this weekend, after a years long battle with leukemia. Since Iris is away, I won’t be able to tell her until tomorrow night. How she handles the news and grieving won’t be my story to tell. Today I wrestled with the senseless questions she will have to face though: why there is sickness, why there is dying, why any of that should touch a child. I don’t know what it is like to lose a peer. I am wrecked with grief and also guilt that comes with moving forward with life when one has ended.

Since no one else in my house knew the news yet, I focused on my one-on-one time with Edith. She wanted to go shopping and so that is what we did, Old Navy cash in-hand. I delighted in her joy at finding the perfect pants and the headbands she’s been wanting. We came home and made comforting cheesy pasta and watched the Lizzie McGuire movie and rested.