On Iris's first birthday, Chloe hosted a small gathering in the garden, with balloons, strawberry cupcakes, and a crooked homemade banner.
Noah insisted on wearing his paper crown, while Sadie arranged glow-in-the-dark stars around the table like a miniature galaxy.
Iris smeared frosting across her cheeks, and Chloe laughed so freely that I almost forgot how the story had begun.
The back of Iris's dress slipped slightly when Chloe lifted her, revealing the little red crescent beneath her shoulder.
Sadie noticed it, then pulled back her own collar just enough to show the similar mark she had carried all her life.
She said the two shapes looked like moons trying to find one another, and everyone went quiet for a beautiful moment.
Then Noah announced that moons were much cooler than grown-ups, and laughter returned before grief could steal the afternoon.
After the cake, Sadie handed me a folded piece of paper decorated with glittering stars and a carefully drawn solar eclipse.
