Rosemary Brown had always dreaded Halloween. Once a time of joy, it had become a haunting reminder of her son Dave, whom she lost in a tragic accident three years ago. The morning of Halloween, he had been crossing the street when a careless driver took his young life. Since then, Rosemary couldn’t bear to celebrate or even acknowledge the holiday, avoiding the costumes, candy, and decorations that once made her son so happy.
But this year was different. At her psychologist’s suggestion, Rosemary agreed to try celebrating Halloween, hoping it might ease her grief. She wandered the aisles of a craft store, filling her cart with pumpkins, lights, and decorations. Despite her heavy heart, she began decorating, each piece placed with care. As she did, memories of carving pumpkins and setting up decorations with Dave flooded her mind, and she clung to those memories as she placed the final touches on the jack-o’-lanterns, wiping away tears.
That Halloween evening, Lucas, Rosemary’s husband, returned home and was taken aback. The house, which had been dark and undecorated for the past few years, was aglow with the vibrant, eerie spirit of Halloween. “Rose, I can’t believe this,” Lucas said with a warm smile. “I’m so proud of you. I’m sure Dave would be, too.”
Just as they sat down for a quiet dinner, a loud knock echoed from the front door, followed by the familiar chant, “Trick or treat!” Rosemary opened the door, expecting a group of neighborhood kids. But as she looked down, her heart stopped. Standing before her was a group of children from the local shelter, wearing costumes that looked all too familiar—costumes she had sewn for Dave three years ago. They were costumes he had never worn because of the accident.
The sight of the children dressed in Dave’s costumes sent a chill through her. She recognized every detail: the patches, the buttons, even the embroidered initials “D” on the collars. Rosemary handed out candy with trembling hands, hardly able to believe what she was seeing. As the children left, she watched them disappear down the street before rushing up to Dave’s room. She pulled out the old trunk where she’d stored his costumes and other belongings. But when she opened it, the costumes were gone.
Panicked, Rosemary searched the room, but his things were missing—his clothes, shoes, favorite toys. The wardrobe was empty except for a few scattered hangers. Desperate for answers, she called Lucas. “Everything is gone, Lucas! All of Dave’s things…they’re missing. And the kids outside…they were wearing his Halloween costumes!”
Lucas’s face softened with a look she couldn’t quite place. He gently took her hands and led her into the kitchen, where he finally explained. “Rose, I didn’t mean to do it without telling you, but I couldn’t bear to see you suffering like this anymore. I took his things to the shelter a few months ago. I thought maybe those kids could feel some of the love that we have for Dave. And… every time I see them wearing his clothes, I feel like a part of him is still with us.”
The realization hit Rosemary hard. She covered her mouth as tears streamed down her face, overwhelmed by the thought that children were carrying pieces of her son’s memory with them. In their grief, her husband had done what he thought was best for her and for Dave’s memory. And despite her sorrow, Rosemary felt a glimmer of gratitude for Lucas’s act of kindness.
“So…those kids who came trick-or-treating tonight…are they from the shelter?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Lucas replied softly. “On my way home, I saw them in the costumes and invited them here, hoping it might bring you some comfort.”
Rosemary’s heart ached, but in a beautiful way she hadn’t felt in years. She wrapped her arms around Lucas, murmuring, “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
As she recalled the group of kids, one face in particular stood out—a little boy named Tom, who had worn Dave’s favorite costume. Tom reminded her so much of her son, from the way he smiled to the sparkle in his eyes. She suddenly felt compelled to see him again.
The very next day, Rosemary and Lucas visited the shelter, bringing toys, clothes, and treats for the children. They spent time with the kids, but Rosemary found herself particularly drawn to Tom. He was shy at first, but he warmed up to her as they played games together. When it was time to leave, Rosemary couldn’t shake the feeling that Tom belonged with them.
Over the following weeks, Rosemary and Lucas began the adoption process, hopeful that they could bring Tom into their lives. Six months later, he came home with them, filling the empty spaces in their hearts with a joy they hadn’t thought possible.
With Tom’s arrival, Halloween became a time of happiness once more. The following year, as they carved pumpkins together, Rosemary watched as Tom carefully crafted his own jack-o’-lantern, proudly showing it to her. “Mama, look! Do you like it?”
Rosemary’s eyes filled with tears as she hugged him. “It’s beautiful, darling. It reminds me so much of someone very special to me.”
In that moment, Rosemary knew that somehow, Dave’s spirit had found its way back to them. Through Tom, she felt the warmth of her son’s love, and she knew that her family was finally whole again. The pain was still there, but so was joy, and she felt Dave smiling down on them, forever part of their lives.
