After they went upstairs, my mother asked whether I still thought about the meeting at the estate.

I admitted that certain moments returned unexpectedly, especially Victor’s calm admission that he had told Brenda about my injury.

What surprised me was how little the memory now shaped my decisions.

“I used to ask what I could have done to make them stay,” I said.

“Now I think the more important question is what I can do for the people who are here.”

She watched me fold the school project instructions.