“That’s what he calls using my name without asking and telling strangers he had medals he never earned.”

She folded the letter and set it aside.

“Do you want to reply?” I asked.

“No.

I’ve already said what I needed to say in my statement.”

She paused.

“But I don’t want to spend the rest of my life talking about him either.”

It was the first time she had said that without bitterness.