The hopeful father.

The grandfather who burned pancakes.

The man who avoided a conversation for nine years, then tried to force it through three severe words.

Those versions remained with the people who had known him.

We would have to learn how to speak about them without pretending only one was real.

Toby helped me steady the urn while I removed the lid.

We handled the inner bag carefully and followed the arrangements made for scattering the ashes in the permitted place beneath the willow.