My fifteen-year-old brother-in-law was a cute, vivacious teenager full of charisma and fun. He loved to tweak my nose whenever he was around me, no matter where we were. Of all my brothers-in-law, he was my favorite. He had a lot of friends and was well liked by everyone that came in contact with him.

One afternoon my brother-in-law came over to borrow our car in order to go out with his friends. Much later on in the night, a phone call from my father-in-law woke us up. My brother-in-law had been in an accident and was taken to the hospital. My husband went to the hospital to see him. I stayed home with our two small sons who were sleeping, oblivious to what was happening. Upon his return, my husband sadly informed me that my brother-in-law had passed away on his way to the hospital. I felt a sudden sadness upon hearing the tragic news and quietly remembered him from the first time I met him. I knew that I was going to miss him terribly. I felt a void in my heart that began to hurt.

All the students from my brother-in-law’s high school attended his funeral, as well as many other friends of the family and relatives, making the procession to the cemetery incredibly long. After an emotional day, we retired for the evening in hopes of much needed sleep.

In the wee hours of the morning the day after his funeral, dogs barking from the surrounding orchard woke me. I felt a sensation on my nose, as if someone had tweaked it, and my nose got icy-cold even though it was a warm night. I turned on the light and woke my husband. I told him that someone must’ve been outside because the dogs had been barking loudly. I also told him that my nose felt ice-cold. He touched it and was amazed at how cold it felt.

“It’s your brother coming to say good-bye,” I told my husband.

I felt better knowing that he came to tell me that he was all right where he was. Although my brother-in-law has been gone for quite some time, it seems like it was only yesterday that I last saw him. He remains in my heart to this day.

—Josie Ruiz, California