“She said you should have something that belonged to the part of your life nobody gets to rewrite.”

Inside the cover, Elena had written: Build something you’re proud to come home to.

For the first time, I let myself believe I could still do that.

PART 13

My daughter arrived the next afternoon.

She ran down the corridor before the escorting officer could finish giving directions.

Valerie had grown taller than Elena and possessed the same determined chin.

When she reached the bed, she wrapped both arms around me and said nothing at all.