Carl pulled the car to a stop at the foot of the hill.

Stewart took Irwin's hand, and together they began their hike up the slope.

At the entrance to the cemetery, two rows of tall, lush trees-both evergreens and flowering shrubs-lined the path, their branches intertwining overhead. The shadows they cast seemed almost like silent sentinels standing guard.

In the center of a broad, solemn plaza stood a towering stone memorial, reaching up toward the sky.

Stewart paused with Irwin in front of the monument and laid a wreath at its base.

The air was thick with silence.

It was Irwin's first time here, and he looked around with wide-eyed curiosity.

Stewart held his small hand tightly as they made their way up toward the graves clustered on the hillside.

Countless unnamed heroes of the modern age lay at rest here.

"Dad, who are we visiting?" Irwin asked.

"We're here to see a great hero." Stewart glanced down at him, his eyes

shadowed by a heaviness Irwin didn't quite understand.

"Like Iron Man?" Irwin pressed, hope flickering in his voice.

replied quietly, his tone solemn.

big eyes

stopped at a simple, black headstone. No name.

knelt, setting the flowers gently at its base. He wiped away the dust with his hand and stared at the stone, his dark

between them was

stood at his father's side, glancing from the headstone to Stewart. He had a thousand questions but

ruffling his son's hair. His voice was low, steady.

"Okay!"

to his knees in front of the grave, pressing his hands to the ground, and bowed

he looked up at Stewart, his small face full of innocence and

feet, his large hand enveloping Irwin's tiny one.

hero

"He does."

craned his neck to look up at him. "What

But Stewart didn't answer.

that his dad didn't want to talk about the

down the

he asked question after question all the way down—but this time he was smart enough

the Lantern Festival! Should

at him. "Do you

burst out. "Mom Rosita said I was too mean to Mom before. She

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255