THERE’S A SILENCE THERE AS THE WEIGHT OF THE QUESTION HANGS BETWEEN THEM.  Kat’s fortunate enough to have both of her parents and all four of her siblings alive and healthy. The inner circle of her family. But there were others, just beyond that little nucleus. Enough distance that the grief doesn’t crush her lungs, but close enough that it clings, like cobwebs in a corner. The kind that still builds up over time to the point where you have to clean it out, start over until the webs catch your eye again.  ❝ A couple of people. ❞ Quiet voice, not much of a whisper, but it doesn’t travel much further than where he sits. She keeps her eyes on him, curious, trying to puzzle out what he’s looking for in her answer.  ❝ My grandma. She had a heart condition. Then there was my uncle, a year or two ago. He had an accident at work. ❞

          We weren’t that close ,  she starts to say, but that would be a lie. She was close to both of them. There was a point in time where every weekend would be spent at grandma and grandpa’s house, and Uncle Henry lived not that far across town, so he was always there.  ( Until one day he wasn’t. )  Kat shifts, perfect posture slumping slightly as she takes a breath.  ❝ What about you? ❞