I always thought grief would be loud. Sirens. Shouting. Things breaking.<\/p>\n
Instead, mine arrived quietly \u2014 in highway miles and stale coffee breath.<\/p>\n
Ten years ago, I was broke, brand new to trucking, and trying to be the kind of dad who shows up with something magical. Emily was turning four. She wanted a teddy bear \u201cas big as me.\u201d<\/p>\n
At a dusty flea market outside Dayton, I found him \u2014 giant, white, one eye stitched slightly higher than the other. The woman selling him, Linda, looked at my thin wallet and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cTen bucks. Dad price.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily wrapped her arms around that bear like she\u2019d just been handed the moon. She named him Snow.<\/p>\n
And Snow became our ritual.
\nEvery time I left for a long haul, she dragged him to my truck, struggling under his size, and ordered, \u201cBuckle him in.\u201d<\/p>\n
So I did. Seatbelt across his belly. Every time.<\/p>\n
At night, when the cab hummed and loneliness tried to settle in my chest, that lopsided face kept it from landing fully. When I came home, Emily would sprint down the driveway, unbuckle him, and say, \u201cSee? He protected you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019d tap Snow\u2019s head and reply, \u201cGood job, partner.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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