"I thought I was stronger than this."

Those had been the last words Shayna had said to herself as she turned away from the mirror. Her heart had come pouring out in a wave of panic. She had let her feelings fall, in fact she had fallen for someone. Her eyes teared a little at the thought of them. With a sigh, she heard her daughter waking up in the next room.

Pressing a smile to her face, she headed into her daughter's room and began to get her ready for the day. As she worked on automatic, her thoughts raced. How would she ever be able to explain the young girl that the man she had gotten close to would never be coming back? Fixing breakfast, she had to turn away and quickly wipe a tear away.

"Oh love, today we are going to take a special trip, okay?" Shayna was speaking to Faye.

The little girl got so excited, thinking it would be something fun.

"Another play date with Timmy down the street, Mommy? Can Theresa come over to stay?"

Shaking her head, but finding that she couldn't hide a smile from the little one's excitement. How lovely it would be to give her those things. A few hours with a friend. Perhaps a treat might be in order to help lessen what she knew would hurt her daughter.  Suddenly her daughter asked a question that had her heart in her throat.

"Is he coming today Mommy? Will he teach me how to go fishing like he promised?"

Shayna could only shake her head sadly as the tears poured down her cheek.

"No love, let's get ready to go out. Maybe we will take a walk down by the pier? Wouldn't the water be lovely on such a beautiful day?"

Directing Faye's attention to something else even though she knew it would only be temporarily. She watched as her daughter went to get her shoes and jacket on and sighed. This would be a long day indeed.

Spending the day by the water did help their moods improve. Faye hadn't asked again, and Shayna hadn't tried to bring it up. She wanted the little girl to enjoy the small things in life. Fresh air and water. She could see the young girl relaxed more around water, like she did. Her eyes were far more intelligent than her years. Sometimes, Shayna could swear that Faye knew what was happening around her even if she tried to hide it.

Nearing the end of the day, she brought Faye to the little grave yard where he was buried. Taking her by the hand, Shayna walked over to the headstone and kneeled down..

"Faye, he couldn't take you fishing today like he promised because he went to Heaven."

The little girl looked confused, her glance going from her mother to the head stone. She read the name and it donned on her. Faye began to cry and Shayna held her, letting the tears flow until there was no more. Shayna's heart broke because she could not cry. The tears Faye cried would have to be for both of them.

"Sweetie, I know that he would have came if he could have." Even the words felt hollow. She had known that he would not come back. Even before his death, he had left them.

Getting ready to leave, she turned her head to the little girl.

"In an uncertain world, we got to find the happy memories to get us through the hard times. Remember him fondly, dear."