I Was Holding My Son’s T-Shirt When His Teacher Called And Said He Had Left Something Behind

kind that comes from somewhere below the ribcage and takes you by surprise — the first real, involuntary, whole-body laugh since before the lake, since before any of it.

Charlie looked startled for a moment. Then he started laughing too.

“It’s the only tattoo I’ll ever love,” I told him when I could speak again.

He looked down at his chest, then back continue reading …