Inside lay the service diary, Daniel Mercer’s letter, and a photograph of two young men in uniforms.

One was Frank, barely nineteen, grinning shyly.

The other was Daniel, holding a lighter high above his head as if he had just won a prize.

On the back Frank had written: Keep showing up.

I took the photograph to him on the porch.

“You never told me that was your motto.”

He looked at the picture and smiled.

“It wasn’t a motto then.