‘Sorry Mom, I Couldn’t Leave Them,’ My 16-Year-Old Son Said When He Brought Newborn Twins Home

Three months later, the call came about Derek.

Car accident on Interstate 75. He’d been driving to a charity event. Died on impact.

I felt nothing. Just a hollow acknowledgment that he’d existed and now he didn’t.

Josh’s reaction was similar. “Does this change anything?”

“No,” I said. “Nothing changes.”

Because it didn’t. Derek had stopped being relevant the moment he walked out of that hospital.