Samuel looked up at the sky. A clear say like this would be perfect for hiking or a short trip down to the beach, but he couldn’t bring himself to get ready. He stood in his hooded jacket, looking up at the blueness dotted with puffs of white. He wondered if his parents were up there, too, but felt silly for even thinking that.

Their funeral had been three weeks ago. He knew grief took a while. Some friends told him it never went away. Yet, he wished it would so that he could enjoy his hobbies again and not feel so utterly empty.

He turned and headed back inside. As he did, the clear sky parted in two streaks of white lightning. He looked over his shoulder just in time to see that he was poised between both, as if there were two protective pillars.

“Hmm,” he said with a smile. No thunder followed.