The wind blew softly through the trees, carrying with it the faint smell of rain. The sky was a muted gray, the kind of overcast day that matched the somber mood hanging in the air. It had been year since Stella's passing, and while the world continued to turn, Elijiah's life had changed in ways he had never anticipated. He stood now at the cemetery, his hands in his pockets, staring down at the simple gravestone that bore Stella's name. His eyes, still heavy with grief, lingered on the inscription:

Stella Harper
Beloved Daughter, Friend, and Mother
1996 – 2020

Underneath, in smaller letters, were the words he had chosen: Always in our hearts.

He wasn't alone today. His daughter, Stella Grace, lay in the stroller beside him, cooing softly as she looked up at the sky. She's a one year old now, and though her presence was a constant reminder of what he had lost, she was also the reason he kept moving forward. Stella Grace had Stella's eyes—deep, warm brown—and every time she looked at him, Elijiah's saw a piece of Stella that had never truly left.

His heart ached with the weight of it all, but he had learned to carry the pain. He had no choice.

After Stella accident, life had felt like a whirlwind.

When Stella Grace was finally born, it was both the happiest and the most devastating moment of Elijiah's life. He held his newborn daughter in his arms, feeling her warmth and tiny breaths, while Stella's life slipped away. The machines were turned off, the room went quiet, and Jake was left with the overwhelming joy of fatherhood and the crushing grief of losing the love of his life.

The funeral had been a blur. His friends had been there, supporting him as they always had, but nothing could have prepared him for the finality of it. The burial, the quiet condolences, the endless stream of people telling him how sorry they were. It had all felt distant, like he was watching someone else's life unfold from a distance.

In the months that followed, Elijiah's had thrown himself into being a father. There was no time to fall apart, no time to wallow in his grief. Stella Grace needed him. Every cry, every feeding, every sleepless night was a distraction from the pain, but it also became a new source of love and purpose. Slowly, Elijiah began to see that while Stella was gone, she had left him a piece of herself in Stella Grace. That realization became the anchor that kept him from sinking into despair.

Elijiah's stands at her grave, flowers in hand. He kneels down, placing them gently on the ground, his heart heavy with memories. As he looks up, he sees Helen and Fernando approaching, each carrying a small bouquet of flowers.

They stand together in silence, a shared understanding of loss between them. Elijiah speaks first, his voice steady.

"She would have loved to see you both." He said softly.

Helen wipes away a tear, her voice trembling.

Helen who's choking back emotion "We think about her every day. We want to be here for Mia and honor her memory."

Fernando nods, placing a comforting hand on Helen's back.

"We promise to keep her memory alive for our granddaughter."

Elijiah's smiles, feeling a sense of unity among them. They all share a moment of silence, remembering the incredible young woman who brought them all together through her love.

As Stella parent's leave the cemetery, Elijiah remain sitted with Stella Grace on his hands, Elijiah stood by Stella grave, he heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching behind him. He turned to see Gael, Spade, Aston, and Naveen walking toward him, their expressions solemn but supportive. They had been there for him through it all—every step of the way—and today was no different.

"Hey, Jake. We thought we'd find you here." Aston.

Elijiah nodded, managing a small smile as he looked at his friends. They had become like brothers to him, especially in the months since Stella passing. They had all pitched in to help him with Stella Grace, offering to babysit, cook meals, and just be there when he needed someone to talk to.

"Yeah, I come here whenever I can. Feels like I can still talk to her, you know?"

"I get it, man. She's still with you. She'll always be with you." Spade nods

Elijiah glanced down at Stella Grace, who was now babbling to herself, her tiny hands waving in the air.

"She's getting big, huh? Look at those chubby cheeks." Aston said grinning.

Elijiah laughed, the sound bittersweet.

"Yeah, she's growing fast. Sometimes I look at her and can't believe how much she's changed already."

"She's a beautiful reminder of Stella, Elijiah's. Every time I see her, I feel like a part of Stella is still here with us." Gael added.

Elijiah's nodded, his throat tightening with emotion. He knew they were right, but it didn't make it any easier.

As the group stood in silence for a few moments, the weight of Stella's absence hung in the air. Elijiah had spent so much time thinking about what could have been—what their life as a family would have looked like. But now, he was learning to live in the present, for Stella Grace's sake. His grief was still there, always lingering beneath the surface, but it wasn't all-consuming anymore. He was learning to move forward, even if he would never fully move on.

After a moment of silence Naveen says "You've been doing a great job with Grace, bro. Stella would be proud of you."

"I hope so. Some days, I'm just trying to get by. But when I look at her... it makes everything worth it."

He looked down at Stella Grace again, watching as she kicked her legs and smiled up at him. He couldn't help but smile back.

"She's got Stella's smile, you know that? It's like looking at her all over again." Aston added.

His heart clenched at the mention of Stella's smile, but he nodded.

"Yeah, she does. I see Stella in her every day."

After a while, the group decided to leave the cemetery and head back to Elijiah's apartment. He had set up a comfortable home for Stella Grace, filling it with all the things she needed. It was small, but cozy, and it was theirs. As they sat in the living room, Stella Grace crawled around on the floor, exploring her toys while Elijiah watched her with a sense of pride.

Naveen grinned "So, has she started saying anything yet?"

Elijiah laughed, shaking his head.

He laughed "Not yet. She's making all kinds of sounds, though. I think she's close."

Gael teases "Just wait until she starts calling you "Dad" non-stop. You'll never get a moment's peace."

Elijiah smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"I can't wait to hear her say it. It'll be the best sound in the world."

His friends exchanged glances, knowing how much  Elijiah had been through. They admired his strength, his resilience, and his dedication to being a father, even in the face of unimaginable loss.

"You're doing great, Jake. I know it hasn't been easy, but you've got all of us, and you've got Lily. You're not alone in this." Spade said seriously.

Elijiah looked around at his friends, feeling a surge of gratitude. He didn't know what he would have done without them. They had been his rock through everything, and now, as he raised Stella Grace, they were like her extended family.

As the afternoon wore on, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and the mood in the room became more relaxed. Elijiah watched Stella Grace as she played, her giggles filling the room with a sound that brought light to the darkest corners of his heart.

For the first time in a long while, Elijiah felt something other than grief. It was a glimmer of hope. A sense that, despite everything, life could still hold moments of happiness. He wasn't the same person he had been before the accident, and he never would be. But he was finding a new version of himself—one that was stronger, more resilient, and more determined to give Stella Grace the best life he could.

Stella's absence would always be a part of him. He would always miss her, always wonder what their life together could have been. But in Stella Grace, he had found a new purpose. He had found a way to keep moving forward, even when it felt impossible.

"We're going to be okay, Stella Grace. I'll make sure of it."

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow through the windows, Elijiah picked up Stella Grace and held her close. She rested her head against his chest, her tiny hand gripping his shirt. And in that moment, as he looked around at his friends and felt the weight of his daughter in his arms, Elijiah knew that they would be okay.

They had to be.