Mark’s first letter arrived four days later.

It was delivered through his attorney, William Vance, and enclosed with a short note describing the tragedy as an unfortunate incident involving yard equipment.

The letter used words I recognized from our marriage: confusion, misunderstanding, stress.

It said Mark had been repairing something when I lost my balance.

It expressed sorrow for our son without acknowledging the decisions that had caused his death.

I read it once.