Eventually, Pamela sent Hannah a handwritten letter through my attorney’s office.

In it, she admitted that her jealousy of Rebecca’s memory had curdled into unfair resentment toward a child who could not defend herself.

Our counselor read it first, and then let Hannah decide whether she wanted to read it at all.

Hannah held the sealed envelope for a moment, and then placed it, unopened, inside her desk drawer.

“Maybe I’ll read it when I’m much older,” she said, calmly.

“I don’t need her explanations right now.” I respected her decision completely, and I want to say why it moved me so much.