I was unsure how I got there. Well, I suppose I do. I had once said, “I’ll go to your funeral and say something nice.” It had been half a joke, but I had said it, and I keep my word. So there I stood, in a suit and tie, before a small group of people I didn’t know. I recognized the two kids and her former husband from the days when Cindy had confided in me. Those days were long over and would never return.

I had heard about it in passing from one of the guys I used to work with. He mentioned, “Did you hear about Cindy George? Her car skidded on ice early the other morning. She was evidently coming back from South Carolina, headed to get her kids. Nobody will admit it after what happened to you, but she likely had been out with you know who.”