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He didn’t tell me.
And Laura, ashamed and frightened, left again.
When I heard that, I felt as though the ground had shifted beneath me.
For decades, I had blamed the mystery.
Now I understood that the truth was more complicated.
There had been no single moment that explained everything.
There had been anger, fear, pride, misunderstanding, and years of silence.
I drove directly to the nursing home where my ninety-year-old father lived.
He was watching television when I entered.
“Emelia,” he said with a smile. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
I placed the wooden sunflower on the table.
His expression changed immediately.
“Where did you find that?”
“With Laura’s sweater.”
He looked away.
“Did you see Laura again after she left?”
He didn’t answer.