“It’s held together by sentiment,” she complained.

“And very determined stitching.”

We were preparing for a weekend trip to the mountains.

My nonprofit had approved paid leave, and for the first time in years I had booked a vacation without seeking anyone’s permission.

I laid out two sweaters, hiking shoes, a paperback novel, and a photograph of my grandmother.

There was space for everything.

I didn’t need to carry the folder anymore.

The original materials were stored appropriately with counsel or returned to their rightful custodians, and I’d retained only lawful personal copies that had been reviewed.