Megan approached me.
She pointed toward the shadow box Ethan had displayed near the family photographs.
“You kept the bracelet.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled.
“I didn't think you would.”
“I almost threw it away.”
“Why didn't you?”
I looked at the braided thread.
Twenty-two years of friendship had been real before she betrayed it.
That fact did not obligate me to restore the friendship.
But I no longer needed to pretend all twenty-two years had been fraudulent simply because the ending was.
“Because you were my friend when you gave it to me.”
Megan cried.
“And later I wasn't.”
“Yes.”
Both.
She nodded.
Then looked toward Oliver.
“Lena would've loved this.”
“I think so.”
A pause.
“Claire?”
“Yes?”
“I'm sorry.”
She had said it before.
This time I didn't need to flinch.
“I know.”
Not:
It's okay.
It wasn't.
Not:
I forgive everything.
I didn't.
Just:
I know.
Then she walked away.
