“You were six.”

“Maybe I want the whole world to know I still have one.”

We painted the frame a soft green that afternoon.

I did most of the sanding, and she chose the color.

By sunset, the bicycle looked hopeful, even though it would remain in the shed for months.

There were harder evenings.

Sometimes an unfamiliar car slowing outside the house sent Chloe into a panic.

A dropped plate made her cover her head before she could stop herself.