His voice broke as he read.
“Grant, if you’re reading this, then I didn’t make it.”
He stopped.
Closed his eyes.
Then continued.
“Don’t blame Claire.”
I looked away.
Grant’s hands were shaking.
“She did everything she could.”
He looked at me.
“I never knew.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
He wiped his eyes.
“My entire life since then…”
He couldn’t finish.
I stepped outside.
The sun was beginning to rise over Silver Creek.
For the first time, the street looked peaceful again.
No crowd.
No phones.
No laughter.
Just quiet houses beneath a pale morning sky.
Grant looked toward Logan’s house.
“He’s ashamed.”
“Good.”
Grant almost smiled.
“He wants to apologize.”
“He should.”
“He doesn’t know how.”
“Then he can learn.”
A few minutes later, Logan appeared.
He walked slowly across the lawn.
No sleeveless shirt.
No gloves.
No camera.
No crowd.
