promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“If I don’t make it, give Daniel my college money. He deserves it.”
I told him not to talk like that. But he made me promise. So I did.

When Ben passed, I expected Daniel to fade from my life. Instead, he kept coming—checking on me, carving a wooden box filled with Ben’s hospital bracelet and a photo of them together. One evening, he admitted college wasn’t possible because his mom was barely making ends meet. My heart clenched.

I remembered my promise.

At a family dinner weeks later, my sister asked, “Scott, what will you do with Ben’s college fund?”

“I’m giving it to Daniel,” I said.

“WHO?” Rebecca’s fork clattered. “That hospital kid?” My mother scoffed. “That money should stay in the family.”

Uncle Will chimed in: “It’s twenty-five thousand dollars. Your nephew could