"Thank you, Roxanne. I appreciate that." he said, feeling a little lighter with that telling of the story. It didn't come close to erasing the pain, but it lessened a little bit.

"I went once, after the funeral and was told by the parlor owner that I couldn't see her. He gave me a number to call so I called it and spoke to her brother. He blamed me for what happened to her, which is fine because I blame him and myself." Joe said.

"He had her plot moved somewhere I couldn't find it. He told me that he hoped I suffered the same pain he was in someday."

And I'm gonna make sure that happens, Rogers. I'm going to take everyone you love from you. Then I'm going to kill you.

Joe left that last part out of the story. Roxanne didn't need to know that.

"I'm sorry. I'm ruining dinner with this. I should be over it by now. It's been almost five years since then." he said, setting down his own food.