Whispered Prayers

by Alex Grayson

Kelsey’s next words cause my heart to slam in my chest painfully. “Please don’t tell my mom I’m talking,” she says, lifting her head and pleading with her eyes. “Why?” He tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. She drops her eyes to the floor and murmurs so low I barely hear her. “Because it’s my fault my daddy died.” Alexander and I both jerk. I grip the doorjamb to keep myself from falling. I’ve always known she blames herself, but to hear her actually say it, hurts so much worse. I watch as Alexander turns to Kelsey and grabs her chin to force her to look at him. “Why would you think it’s your fault, Kelsey?” Her voice is a tearful whisper, and I have to lean closer to hear her. “Because I made him go get my bear and that’s when he died.” “Sweetie, it wasn’t your fault,” Alexander says, his voice strained. “You were six years old. There was no way you could know that would happen. Even your mom and dad didn’t know it would happen.” She looks at him with tears flooding down her face, and my heart feels like it’s being beaten with a bat coated in spikes. “But maybe if I hadn’t—” He doesn’t let her finish. “No, honey. It still would have happened.”