A grieving mother is taken aback when a group of children arrives at her door on Halloween night, wearing costumes she once made for her late son. When she checks his room, a heart-wrenching surprise awaits her.
“Think it over, Mrs. Brown,” her therapist gently encouraged. “Halloween doesn’t have to be something to dread. Facing it might actually help you move forward.”
Rosemary, 37, blinked back tears, her fingers clenched around her chin. Could she really embrace Halloween again? Would decorating the house ease the pain of that tragic day?
Though hesitant, Rosemary followed her therapist’s advice. She visited the market, picked out decorations, and began preparing her home for the holiday she had once cherished—before the accident that took her son’s life three years ago.
When her husband, Lucas, returned home from a work trip, he was pleasantly surprised to find their house filled with Halloween spirit. “Rose! I can’t believe it—you’ve done an amazing job!” he exclaimed, kissing her on the cheek. “Dave would be so happy to see you like this.”
Yet, as Rosemary finished carving a jack-o’-lantern—a favorite tradition she and Dave had shared—her heart ached anew. Their son had loved pumpkin carving, always competing with friends over whose was the funniest or scariest.
That evening, a group of children spotted the cheerful decorations and eagerly approached the door. The knock startled Rosemary as she set the dinner table. When she opened the door, her breath caught—the children wore Halloween costumes she recognized immediately. They were the very ones she had sewn for Dave but had never been worn.
Heart racing, Rosemary handed out candy and hurried to her son’s room. She opened the old trunk where she had stored Dave’s costumes, only to find it empty. Nearly everything in the room was gone—his shoes, toys, and favorite posters were missing. Speechless and fighting back tears, she called Lucas to join her.
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