Lily nodded. "Okay. Can we get ice cream."
Aaron laughed despite the bruise the question had pressed. "Yes. Ice cream."
October again. One year.
Aaron woke early and ran his three miles through the neighborhood as the sky lightened over Charlotte. He ran past the oaks, past the park, past the house with the basketball hoop that still hit its lonely rhythm some evenings. He ran until his lungs burned and his thoughts simplified into breath and pavement.
When he came home Simone was in the kitchen with coffee. Lily still asleep. The house quiet in the particular way of weekend mornings.
Simone said, "I know what day it is."
Aaron wiped sweat with his shirt hem. "I know too."
"Do you want to mark it. Or ignore it. Or burn something symbolic in the backyard. I will follow your lead."