They were wearing mismatched graduation gowns and laughing at something outside the frame.

The box no longer felt like an object containing a mystery.

It felt like a record of ordinary people who had kept choosing one another across a distance of years.

Inside were Walter’s letter, my reply, the old napkin, Anna’s ribbon, and a copy of the diner receipt.

I had also added a photograph of Mrs.

Avery holding the twins at their first birthday party.

She wore an enormous paper hat the girls had insisted she keep on all afternoon.