Miss J found her there one afternoon, sitting on the same bench beneath the tree, her hands resting limply in her lap.
The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting soft, dappled shadows across her face. She looked lost in thought, her gaze fixed on something far away.
Without saying a word, Miss J walked over and sat beside her.
After a long moment, she gently pulled Bella into a hug.
"It's okay, sweet girl... it's okay," she whispered, slowly rubbing her back.
Bella remained still for a while. She didn't pull away.
Finally, she nodded against Miss J's shoulder.
Miss J took a quiet breath before continuing, choosing her words carefully. She knew that grief was fragile. She knew that saying the wrong thing could make it worse. So she spoke slowly and gently.
"You need to slowly accept his death, Bella. I know it's hard. I know it feels impossible right now, but he finally got his peace."
Bella looked up at her, her eyes glassy.
