All Your Firsts Without Me

by L.M. Terry

There’s a knock on the door, so I step away from him to answer it. When I open the door, I find Giles standing on the patio with a large box in his arms. He gives me a sad smile. “Teresa called me this morning. I’m so sorry, April.” I hold the door open for him and he steps inside, placing the box down on the coffee table. “Um, David asked me to bring this when… well, you know.” He nervously wipes his hands down the front of his pants. “He did mention a box of letters showing up today.” As I step towards him, he pulls me into his arms harshly. “April, god, I don’t even know how to act. I’m so sorry,” he says again. I return his hug. “It’s okay. I don’t think any of us know how to act. David always kept us all moving forward. Now I don’t know. I just don’t know.” I break away from him and plop down on the couch, gawking at the box. Kaden joins us, they shake hands and hug while I continue my stare down with the box. Kaden sits down beside me. “Is this the box?” he asks Giles. The surprise on my face makes Kade laugh. “We’re all in on it, you know?” he teases. I scowl at him. “In on what?” “You know Dad is going to pester you the rest of your life, yeah?” he jokes. Ignoring him, I open the box to find what looks like a highly organized system. Some have dates for opening them, some are for firsts without him, some are simply when you are feeling down letters. I close the box, not wanting to share anything inside with anyone. I’ll look at them later, when I’m alone.