To Nancy, her son Henry was everything. She could never picture her life without him. It had been 23 years since Henry’s death in the terrible accident. One day a year, she brought his favorite pie to his grave to remember him. Things were going to change this year, though.
Nancy, who is now 61 years old, has never missed a day on this date for 23 years. Every year since then, she baked her late son’s favorite pie and brings it to his grave. Henry’s favorite pie since he was a child. It was made with apples and cinnamon and was simple but tasty. When Henry was little, the smell of apples and cinnamon made him remember running into the kitchen and getting very excited when he saw the pie.
It was his favorite treat, and baking it together was something they both loved doing. Nancy had been doing this every day to remember Henry since his terrible accident when he was 17.
She felt like she was still doing something special for her boy, which made her feel close to him. It was the hardest thing she had ever been through to lose him. She would always feel the pain of that day. Even though years had passed, her sadness didn’t go away. Time and this small ritual only made it easier for her. On this day, just like every year before, Nancy carefully took the newly baked pie to the cemetery. As always, the dish felt heavy as she walked toward where Henry was sleeping. That he was still loved was shown by how clean and flower-filled the grave was.