i will follow you into the dark

November 2038 - Neil Cameron is 64, Viola Cameron is 47, Alison is 13, Clara Long is 20.

It starts out like any other quiet November morning. Alison is at school, Viola is at work, and Neil is doing a little yard work.

But suddenly he feels a pain in his chest. He's not ready to die, but it's his time to go.

Viola and Alison are inconsolable.

When she tries to go to bed, she can't bring herself to lie down in the bed she and Neil used to share.

Instead she ends up sleeping on the couch. After the insurence money comes in, she quits her job at the restaurant and spends all day sleeping on the couch.

"Mom?" Alison asks.

"I'm fine," Viola says. "Don't be late for school."

"It's Saturday, Mom."

Alison doesn't know what to do, so she calls Clara and asks her to come over.

"Hi Mom," Clara says. "I'm so sorry. How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine sweetie."

"How is she really doing?" Clara asks Alison.

"She hasn't gotten out of her pajamas in days," Alison says. "I don't know what to do."

"I'll sit with Mom for a while," Clara offers. "Why don't you relax, take a walk or something."

Clara has to go back to school a few hours later, and it's just Viola and Alison again. Alison makes dinner, macaroni and cheese again. She can't cook anything else.

Clara got their mother to take a bath and get dressed, but by dinner she's exhausted and upset.

"Are you okay Mom?" Alison asks.

"I'm fine sweetie. I'm just tired."

"You need to eat something Mom," Alison insists. "Please Mom."

Viola sighs, but sits up and takes a bite of mac and cheese. "It's good," she says. "Thank you for making dinner."

"You're welcome, Mom." She pauses before adding, "We've been eating mac and cheese every night for a week. Maybe tomorrow you could show me how to make your spaghetti and meatballs."

Viola smiles. "Okay. Spaghetti and meatballs it is."