Carl died two mornings later with my hand beneath his.

His final breath was so gentle that I did not recognize it as the end until the room remained still.

Fewer than twenty people attended the funeral.

Most were former students and old friends.

One person placed a paper lunch bag beside the coffin.

Another left a blue birdhouse.

I believed I had given a lonely man ten days of belonging.

I did not yet understand what he had given me.

That evening, someone knocked at my door.

The man outside wore a charcoal coat and carried a leather case.

“Selena?”

“Yes.”

“My name is Mr. Baron. I was Carl’s lawyer.”

I stepped aside.

He remained on the porch.

“When I met him a few days ago, Carl made me promise not to come back until after his funeral. I knew he didn’t have much time left… but I never imagined that would be our last conversation.”