We never opened them — not out of spite, but out of a boundary she had spent our whole childhood destroying and that we were, at last, allowed to keep.

Roland’s lawyers filed two appeals.

The evidence held against every one.

A year after the trial, Nora and I walked back through the doors of that same emergency department, as guest speakers at a training seminar for the foundation.

Outside, the morning was bright, and families moved through the sliding doors, unaware of the quiet work being done inside.

In the hallway, my sister looked over at me.

“Do you still hear him in your dreams?” “Sometimes,” I admitted.