It was sunny that day, with a clear sky and gentle breeze. It felt wrong to Janie. On a day like this, the weather should match her mood. The birds singing felt out of place, as did the children laughing on the street.

The road was dusty. Every step she took kicked dirt onto the hem of her dress, but she didn’t care. She clung to her father with one hand, holding the rag doll her mother had made for her in the other. She wanted to take off her shoes – shoes were for winter and special occasions. They pinched her feet as she walked, making her more acutely aware of her destination.

She saw the crowd before anything else. It seemed that everyone had turned out for the event, but they turned quiet, allowing Janie and her father to pass.

Just before they removed the stool from under the woman on the scaffolding, she locked eyes with Janie. I love you, she mouthed. To the moon.

Janie couldn’t contain herself any longer. A cry of anguish ripped from her throat, even as her father restrained her.

“Mommy!”