Arthur and me at our anniversary.

Grandchildren.

Two newborn girls.

Elena stopped being the photograph everyone had to hide before Chloe entered a room.

That was perhaps the quietest repair of all.

PART 65 — THE LAST BIRTHDAY LETTER

Arthur stopped writing to Elena after Chloe turned eighteen.

Not because he stopped remembering.

Because the original ritual had completed itself.

One day Chloe asked: