They had on their knitted hats, the puffy red ones with the pom-poms hanging off the side. They wore their hats tilted, showing off their matching curls. They were so cute walking together in the park, swinging their arms, scattering the leaves with their big steps. Every so often, his wife and daughter would look back at him over their shoulders, giggling because they were so happy.

        “I’m still here,” he’d say, wave at them, trade smiles, and then shove the hand back in his pocket.

        Kicking the leaves they’d scattered helped ease the walk in the park.