The man who bought a small toy because he remembered she loved the beach.

But I also needed him to acknowledge his role in the incident.

He had sent me away under a false explanation.

He hadn’t checked what Vanessa intended to do.

And when I tried to leave, he asked me not to make a report.

Both versions of Richard existed.

I could no longer pretend one erased the other.

That evening, Elaine invited us to her house.