K was taken from us too soon, in a circumstance as unforgiving and abrupt as the closing of a book mid-sentence. Her story, vibrant and beautiful, was one I thought I would never watch end. As parents, we are never prepared to write chapters like this; instead, we harbor dreams of futures filled with joy, laughter, and an eternity of warmth.

Our sweet girl now sleeps in a small cemetery, resting near her great-grandparents. She lies on a gentle hill, as if perched to oversee the generations below, a princess keeping a watchful, loving eye on those around her. In the quiet of the cemetery, the world seems to pause, wrapped in the presence of history and family.

But there, amidst the whispers of the past, I see the bleakness that marks her place. The temporary marker left by the groundskeepers is a stark reminder of the work still ahead. She deserves so much more than that somber placeholder—she deserves something that echoes her spirit and brings solace to those who come to visit.

Right now, we are searching for inspiration. Her brother, sister, and I have spent countless evenings scrolling through options, trying to find something that captures her essence. Yet, no design feels right. No stone seems worthy of the task.

The universe has set no guidelines for this, no handbook to navigate the time frame or decisions. We are on our own, amidst the sea of endless possibilities and deep, unending grief.

And there lies the crux of our pain—seeing her name engraved will make this unfathomable loss feel more real, as if casting it into permanence. It feels like saying goodbye all over again. Yet, in spite of the dread, there is an undeniable love threaded through this act.

The headstone will be more than a marker; it will be a love letter carved in stone, a tribute to her life’s reverie, a place where memories can bloom like the wildflowers she adored. It is so hard, almost unbearable. But it is for her.

For now, I hold onto the thought of Heaven infused with her smile, hoping our angel might guide us to the tribute that fits her as beautifully as her life did.