Would Have Been 5
Artemis would be 5 years old today, a completely different child than the one we lost 3 years ago. He would have developed new ideas, interests, and abilities – truly a little boy who has left toddlerhood far behind. Enough time has passed that the emotions I feel don't seem directly connected to this date or the memories of Artemis. It feels like an unknown pressure in my brain and chest, emotions I'm not fully conscious of barely held at bay. Grocery store music or speaking with a stranger or just walking down the street can suddenly produce a tingling behind my eyes or make it difficult to speak, and I don't even fully understand why in the moment. There are many days of unexplained frustration, numbness, or lethargy, but significant dates often throw everything at me at once. One positive light in our day was Artemis’ brother. We made a conscious effort to appreciate every moment with Apollo. We showed him photos and videos of his brother which he thoroughly enjoyed and...
