When the two of them had started dating, she had asked him to promise that he would take her to the prom.

“No promises.” He had told her, "I only make promises I know I can keep."

He still showed up and took her to the prom.

They dated on and off for a few more years before finally growing comfortable with one another to move in together. She asked him to promise he would cover his part of the rent every month.

“No promises.” He had told her again. "You never know what can happen, I might lose my job or get hurt. I only make promises I know I can keep."

So they lived, and loved together. She never asked him to marry her because she knew that he wouldn't make the promise. She knew that there was no way he could be sure he would keep it.

They had a beautiful baby boy together. In the hospital, as the baby lay in her arms he knelt by her bed.

"I swear to you, I promise that I will always be there for the two of you." She was moved to tears.

He spent all of his free time with them. When their son was a toddler he would build huge towers out of blocks, reaching halfway to the ceiling. Their son would then run, crashing through it and sending blocks scattering as he laughed and clapped for joy.

Then came the accident. He had been stopped by an officer on the side of the freeway for a tail light being out when another car swerved and struck the both of them, killing them instantly.

She wept bitter tears as she mourned her loss, standing at the side of his grave. "I guess this was a promise that you couldn't keep."

Later that afternoon, she hear her son talking in his bedroom. She knocked on his door and listened. "Who are you talking to, buddy?"

"Daddy!" He replied.

Her tears began anew at that simple word. A hard lump of sorrow knotted in her throat as she pushed open the door.

In the center of the room, far taller than her son could reach was a huge tower of blocks. It reached halfway to the ceiling, just like his daddy had always built for him.