The officer ended the conversation when she was tired.

More assessment might be needed, but she didn’t have to answer every possible question that night.

Outside, I put the discharge papers into the grocery envelope that had held the extra napkins.

Emily stood beside the car.

“Mom, does Grandma really wish I weren’t here?”

I held the envelope still.

“What makes you ask?”

“She said everybody would’ve been better if Walter had never left me anything.”