He nodded, returned to his calculations, and asked if there was any pie left.

I gave him the biggest slice.

<strong>PART 23</strong>

In a drawer beside my bed I kept a letter I had written the month Brian left.

It was addressed to him, but I never mailed it.

The paper had yellowed at the folds.

I found it while sorting old documents for a move into a smaller apartment.

In the letter I had begged him to reconsider.