A young soldier named Marcus stood several feet away.
He had served with Daniel.
He had also been Daniel’s closest friend.
Marcus watched Noah holding the boots.
Then he walked toward Emily.
May I?
She nodded.
Marcus crouched beside Noah.
Your dad talked about you every day.
Noah looked at him.
Daddy?
Marcus smiled through tears.
Yeah.
Your daddy.
He reached into his uniform pocket.
Then he removed a small photograph.
It showed Daniel sitting beside several other soldiers.
Daniel was holding the same picture of Noah that Emily kept on the refrigerator.
Marcus handed it to the child.
Your dad carried this everywhere.
Noah stared at the photograph.
Then he touched his father’s face.
Emily looked at Marcus.
He really carried that?
Every day.
Marcus nodded.
He told everyone Noah was going to be taller than him someday.
For the first time during the funeral, Emily laughed through her tears.
Noah looked at both adults.
Then he held the photograph against the boots.
Daddy.
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