A Tragic Heart (37 page)

They taught me a lot. They taught me that love is stronger than anything else on this planet and that sometimes we do things and make decisions not because of love, but because of commitment. They taught me how to fight through hard times and how to live. They taught me friendship and good times. But most of all, they taught me how to forgive and to never waste time on regret or hold grudges.

Peyton and Taylor were the most important people life has given me, and I don’t think life will ever be that generous again. The great thing is that I have Peyton Hayley Giordano, the best five-year-old you’ll ever meet. She looks like her father but has her mother’s personality. She is blessed with both of their talents. She’s great with words and she’s learning to play two instruments, guitar and piano, just like her mom and dad.

“Uncle Mason, Auntie Adalyn said to hurry so we can go to the park!” Peyton yells as she runs over to me and jumps into my arms.

The wind pushes her hair away from her face, exposing her piercing green eyes. She looks down at her parents’ graves and then looks back at me.

“Later on tonight, can you tell me the story about Mommy and Daddy again? They’re my favorite love story,” she says with the innocent voice of a child.

“I thought
Cinderella
was your favorite love story,” I say to her as I carry her toward the car.

“No, it’s Mommy and Daddy. Their story is real and not made up, that’s why it’s my favorite.”

She’s mature for her age and that makes her even cuter.

“You know what my favorite part is, Uncle Mason?”

“No, but you should tell me!”

“The end,” she exclaims.

“Why the end?” I ask, confused about why she would like the saddest part of the story.

“Because it makes me feel better knowing that Mommy and Daddy are safe and happy now. They’re in heaven, and you said heaven is the place good people go.”

“That’s right, Peyton. They are happy,” I tell her as I put her in the car.

“Uncle Mason, can I call you and Auntie Adalyn Daddy and Mommy from now on?”

“Uh, sure. Of course you can, sweetie,” I answer, clearly taken by surprise by her question.

I put my key in the ignition, but I have to pause before I pull out of the parking lot. I get this way every time I visit Peyton and Taylor or whenever Peyton mentions them, which is often.

“She asked about her parents again?” Adalyn asks me, quietly enough that Peyton won’t hear.

“Yeah,” I say.

The one thing Taylor failed to realize is that her heart wasn’t the only one that was tragic; there are plenty of us out there. In fact, we all are the owners of a tragic heart. We all experience death, life, depression, happiness; we gain things and we lose things. Truth is, we are all tragedies waiting to happen. We just have to remember to have the rescue crew nearby when it strikes…