Several people smiled.
I didn’t.
I already knew where this was going.
Theo continued.
“Jack said, ‘Fine. Then you have to wear one to mine.'”
Theo looked down at the red fabric.
“I told him absolutely not.”
He paused.
“Then he said red.”
My hands began shaking.
“Specifically red. Because he said black makes me look like an undertaker.”
Someone behind me laughed and immediately started crying.
Theo’s voice weakened.
“I told him there wasn’t going to be a funeral.”
He stopped again.
This time he couldn’t hide the tears.
“I said he was going to get better.”
The room was completely silent.
“He said, ‘Probably.'”
Theo wiped his face with the back of his hand.
“But then he made me promise.”
I couldn’t breathe.
