Bittersweet

Claire heard the sound of the door opening and looked up, not expecting who she saw there. She would have thought it would have been Alex.

Ethan had a worried expression on his face. "You okay, Claire?"

"Sort of. I always get like this when I read one of the letters my mom left behind. They make me miss her more than ever. She was all I had growing up, you know. I was on my own for six years after she died," she said with a sniffle as she tried wiping her eyes.

"And that's when you met Alex?"

"Mmhmm. I wish she could have met him. And you. I think she would have liked you guys but I'll never know for sure because she's gone. All I have left of her are these letters, the bucket list we made together, some old pictures and videos, and a headstone in Westview Cemetery."

Ethan shook his head. "That isn't true. Didn't you say you got all your holiday traditions from your mom? All the fun things we do are from her too."