For Carol

All the things I never had to say.

Photo by Harli Marten on Unsplash

My friend died.

Her eighty-two-year-old husband sent a group text.

I had just logged in to work for the day and was sitting right here, at my desk, sipping coffee and reading messages when I heard my phone buzz.

“I’m sorry to have to inform you that Carol passed away on 1/24/22. The cause of death has not been determined. Take care.”