Estate Planning

There was a moment where I was sitting in the car and I could feel the weight of everything on my shoulders.

Completely overwhelmed.

Broken.

Not sure how much longer I could do this.

All I wanted — more than anything — was to see Alex again.

And that’s when the idea settled in.

The idea of being done.

Not like a dramatic thought. Not like a cry for help.

Just a quiet certainty.

It wasn’t a matter of if anymore.

It was when.

When can I be done?

The only thing I could think about was Jason — making sure he was taken care of, that everything would be easy for him, that he’d inherit everything without complications.

And while I was thinking those thoughts, I got a text from Daren.

He asked how I was doing.

There are two kinds of replies in moments like that:
You lie…
or you tell the truth.

And for some reason, I told the truth.

I said I was sitting there thinking about what I needed to do to make sure Jason is taken care of as best I can… estate planning.

He responded like a practical friend would — make a list, cross things off, I can help.

He didn’t understand what I meant.

I wasn’t surprised.

So I said, I think you misunderstand. You probably would’ve responded differently if you knew what I meant.

I wasn’t thinking about making sure Jason is taken care of in 10–15 years.

I was thinking about tomorrow.

And then everything changed.