My heart swelled as the soft lilts and the sweet cadences of her melodious voice, framed by a gentle smile, swept over me in waves, leaving me awash in sepia-tone memories and tinkling laughter like bells, echoing in the distance of joy long past.

I close my eyes and let myself float away, moving to the steps of a dance long forgotten, buried beneath all the grief and anger that followed soon after. But there’s none of that now, as a familiar body slides into my arms and joins in my reverie, movements fluid and reassuring. They flutter open with a tentative smile, and I find myself looking into green eyes bright with tears. Slowly, the world is re painted in vivid hues, and the memories fall away to reality. We twirl our way across the room, feeling as if we were high above in the clouds.

She’s still singing.