There was no declaration of forgiveness.

I didn’t ask for one.

Caleb came running toward us with a leaf almost as big as his hand.

He held it up proudly, then handed it to Maya because she said the shape looked like a rabbit’s ear.

They argued cheerfully about whether rabbits could have red ears.

Lucas settled the dispute by proposing they look for another leaf.

I remembered my first morning with the photograph, how fiercely I’d wanted the children to carry my name.