The rest would require more than one difficult Sunday.

Before I put on my jacket, I went downstairs once more.

The dining room had been cleared except for the things I had set aside.

Noah’s crown lay near the jar of flowers.

My duplicate blue folder rested at the other end of the table, closed, where I would collect it before leaving.

I moved the crown away from the damp ring beneath the flower jar and placed it beside the folder.

The silver stars were bent.