I picked up the white candle.
“Where do you want this?”
She pointed toward the kitchen windowsill.
“There.”
I placed it there.
Not burning.
Not broken.
Not thrown away.
Just sitting where Amelia had chosen.
My phone buzzed.
Ryan.
I stared at his name for several seconds before opening the message.
Tell Amelia I’m sorry I made her feel like she had to prove she was okay.
Another message appeared.
And Annie… I think I’ve spent a long time asking everyone else to be okay with choices I made.
I read that one twice.
Then locked my phone.
I didn’t answer.
Not because I wanted to punish him.
Because his realization didn’t create an obligation for me.
Across the kitchen, Peter yelled:
“AMELIA! STOP TAKING MY FRIES!”
“They were on my side!”
“That’s not how plates work!”
For the first time all day, I laughed.
