Take Me with You

by Catherine Ryan Hyde

“Yeah, but not just them. All of this. All this . . . you know. These places. Nature. It makes me feel different. But I just can’t figure out what words to use.” “Most people say it makes them feel smaller. Like the world is so big, it makes them feel insignificant.” “No,” Seth said. But then he didn’t immediately elaborate. “Bigger,” he said after a time. “Really?” “Just on the inside, though,” Seth said. “Like in my chest. Like I breathe air into my chest, and there’s more space in my lungs than before. But not my lungs really. I just feel like there’s more room inside me than there used to be.”

“Phillip, we wish you were here for this trip. I know you don’t know me, but I know I would’ve liked you, because I like your dad so much. And this would be a much nicer trip with you here, because then he wouldn’t be so sad. But I hope when we put a little bit of you in the fire, he’ll feel better. I’m still not so sure about that fire thing, but . . . well . . . never mind.”