I watched him struggle with the next words.

“I was terrified she’d die before she told you.

Then she gave me the letter, and I thought it was settled.

This morning, after the honor walk started, I got a call from a transplant coordinator about a family that wanted to speak to me.

I knew she’d written about them.

I didn’t think before I moved.”

“You left me at the surgical doors.”

He bowed his head.