Home Entertainment Game Technology Advertisement Part 2: For eight years, my parents made me leave the house every time my brother brought his fiance over; Mom said, “She comes from a good family, don’t embarrass us”; Dad added, “Just disappear for the weekend”; I did; then one weekend, I never came back; it took them four years to find out where I went.

She thought the shame belonged to her.

It never did.

The pastor approached carefully.

“We'll remove it.”

I looked up.

“Not today.”

He paused.

“Are you sure?”

I stood.

I looked at the dogwood.

Then at the care tag Avery had brought back.

She'll bloom.

The irony had become too perfect to destroy quickly.

“Give me a week.”

Avery and I sat on a bench.

For a while neither of us spoke.

Then she said:

“Mitch told me the truth.”

“All of it?”

“His version.”

“That's different.”

“Yes.”

Good.

She looked toward the tree.

“He says he loved you.”

“I know.”

“Do you believe him?”

“Probably.”

She frowned.

“That doesn't sound comforting.”

“Love isn't always evidence of safety.”

Avery absorbed that.

Then:

“I loved him.”

“You probably still do.”

She began crying.

“Yes.”

“That doesn't tell you what to do next.”

“No.”

I looked at her.

“I'm sorry.”

She laughed sadly.