How can one cope with the death of a child? As "David" says, "I never understood the term 'devastating loss' before ..." As he and Lacey begin to question their whole relationship to the universe, a cardinal becomes the catalyst for them to gather the loose strands of their differing religious beliefs, their anger, and their hurt and to begin to find a way through their unimaginable new reality. From Deb Cole, one expects thoughtful plays and believable characters. This is no exception.

As beautifully written as it is devastating, Deb Cole's look at loss and living on after is quiet, but it speaks volumes. Lacey is desperately looking for a way to hang on to her late daughter and finds it in a cardinal. David is even more interesting here. There's a sense of anger under his words. I was fascinated with his take on possibility seeing their child in the afterlife. It made him angry that a possible creator would take away their little girl in the first place. These are rich, complex characters brought to us in only 5 pages.

There is no easy way to deal with grief. Religion, looking for signs from the departed, or just trying to plow ahead. What works for one may not work for another. In this lovely, heartbreaking play, Deb Cole presents a couple who may have found something that, over time, will hopefully ease their pain. It doesn’t get any more real than this.