The boys had lived full, interesting lives even while carrying a hurt they couldn’t name.

At the festival’s closing demonstration the three teenagers took a photograph together.

Julian sent it to me first, asking whether I minded if he showed Brian.

I passed the question to the boys.

Nathan agreed.

Zachary thought for a moment, then agreed too, with one condition: no social-media post.

Julian replied with a thumbs-up.

Later Brian sent the twins an email saying he was glad they’d had fun.