For three years, I had been the person keeping Ryan alive for him.

Pictures.

Videos.

Stories.

Little memories.

But something happens when a child loses a parent that young.

Their memories begin fading.

Ethan once remembered Ryan’s laugh.

The way he smelled.

How he tickled him.

Specific moments.

Over time, those memories softened.

Eventually I could no longer tell whether Ethan remembered things himself or remembered me telling him about them.

During the previous month, he had started asking about Ryan more often.

What food did Dad like?

Was Dad good at soccer?

What did Dad want to be when he grew up?

And several times that week, Ethan had asked me about the storage unit where I kept Ryan’s belongings.

“There are boxes of Dad’s things there?”

“Lots.”

“Can we go?”

“We will. I promise.”

I had thought it was heartbreaking but sweet.

My son wanted to know his father.

Standing in my kitchen with a strange object behind his ear, it no longer felt sweet.

I stopped touching the disc.

“Ethan, I need you to tell me everything about this man.”

His eyes widened.

“But first, I’m calling someone.”

I called the police.

The dispatcher’s calm voice was probably the only reason I stayed functional.

I told her what I had found.

That a stranger had apparently placed it behind my son’s ear.

That the stranger had been talking to him near school.

“Don’t remove the object,” she told me. “Leave it exactly where it is. Are you inside your home?”

“Yes.”

“Are the doors locked?”

I looked toward the front door.

“Not the front.”

“Lock it. Keep your son beside you. Stay away from the windows. Officers are on the way.”

I locked the door with Ethan holding my hand.

Then we sat at the kitchen table.

“Am I in trouble?” he whispered.

“No.”

His chin began trembling.

“You did nothing wrong.”

“He told me not to tell you.”

“I know.”

“He said it was a secret.”

“Ethan, you can always tell me the truth. You will never be in trouble for telling me something like this.”

About twenty minutes later, two police cars pulled up.

The lead officer introduced herself as Officer Patel.

She had a calm voice and kind eyes.

She examined the object behind Ethan’s ear without touching it.

Then she crouched in front of him.