Wow, this took my breath away, @samsmith1971. Such a heartbreaking tale.

I read your exchange with @lordtimoty, and I have the same small bit of feedback. (Again — when a story is so nearly perfect, one hesitates to comment on what could be improved!) The two who sat on the goat shed and had deep conversations about life and death seemed to have a very adult or young-adult relationship. My jaw dropped when I read size 2 shoes and that the boy had been only 8 years old! (Maybe the image of the big grownup shoes contributed to our impressions. Ha ha.) But I did make the mental adjustment. I guess I would also have liked to see some of the conversation between them happen with dialog. My two cents!

Your writing is always so lovely. You had me at...

That's one of the things I will always remember about him.

This foreshadowing gripped me and compelled me forward. And I was well rewarded with a stunning story, rich in detail and beautifully told!