The cemetery was quiet. The wind slipped through the tall trees, rustling the leaves in soft whispers that almost sounded like words.
Kai stood in front of the polished white tombstone with his hands buried deep in his coat pockets. The carved letters of her name stared back at him.
He swallowed and spoke in his voice barely above a breath. “Celeste… it’s been a while since I came here like this.” He hesitated, his gaze drifting over the marble. “I always thought I’d visit more often. But every time I thought about it… I stopped myself. Maybe I was afraid that standing here would remind me how real it is. That you’re really gone.”
He crouched down, brushing a stray leaf from the base of the stone. His fingers lingered there, tracing the cold marble as if the contact could bridge the dis
