ice cream (3)

Now he just looked tired. “Two scoops?” her mom asked. “Whatever.” She ordered strawberry for Ellie and mint chocolate chip for herself—like always. The ice cream came in paper cups, melting fast, pooling before Ellie took the first bite. She didn’t thank her. Her mother didn’t expect her to. They sat on a bench that creaked like it resented the weight of people and grief. For a while, the only sound was the scrape of plastic spoons and the distant crash of waves. “You know,” her mother said eventually, “ your dad used to come here just for this place.