The conversation sounded like my family.

I listened.

Gradually, the reception resumed.

A guest came to congratulate me on Chloe and said nothing about Elena.

Another asked whether I would like a photograph with the girls.

We took one after checking that Maya wanted to join and that nobody was being pulled away from something they would regret missing.

I had spent fifteen years trying to preserve images for a person who did not respond.

Now the girls were arranging one because they wanted it themselves.