Brooke followed him, crying. My mother looked toward Sadie and called her name, softly, once.

Sadie looked back at her for a long moment — and then turned to her display board and did not answer.

Trevor muttered that I’d become impossible, and walked out through the doors.

Later that night, Sadie asked me whether you have to forgive people once they finally admit they were wrong.

I thought about it for a while, because she deserved a real answer and not a reflex.

“Forgiveness isn’t a key,” I said finally.