I learned yesterday that Literary Mama columnist Vicki Forman‘s son Evan died suddenly, and I have not been able to think of anything else since.

Vicki and I have never met in person, though we’ve exchanged writing and music and were looking forward to doing a reading together next month. I never met Evan, or his big sister, or Vicki’s husband, but I got to know them all a little bit through Vicki’s gorgeous writing. Now, somehow, Evan is gone and the writing is all that’s left. It’s a wonderful tribute to her strong and spirited son, but oh, Vicki. . . I wish you still had your boy.

I’ve posted a note at Literary Mama, where readers can send a note to Vicki and contribute to a memorial fund in Evan’s name.