She imagined pages filled with explanations about stress, finances, and family obligations.

She imagined a different letter taking full responsibility.

Neither would undo the burn or restore the years she had spent rearranging her life to prevent his anger.

“Tell them I don’t want the letter,” she said the next morning.

“If he wants to change, he can change without my participation.”

Celia acknowledged her decision.

Iris put down the phone and watered her balcony plants.

One tomato vine had become tangled with the railing.