The water glowed orange and purple beneath the pines.
Exactly as it had when we were young.
And for that moment, everything felt whole.
—
Part 5: The Promise I Keep
That wedding was four years ago.
I’m writing this because Sophie asked me to.
She says someday she may need help remembering the details too.
She’s right.
None of us is getting younger.
And memories are more fragile than I ever understood.
Mark now lives in a residential care home.
It’s a good place, only twelve minutes from our house.
I visit every morning around nine.
Most days, I stay until dinner.
His room overlooks a small pond where ducks drift across the water.
I specifically requested that room.
I told the staff my husband has always loved being near a lake.
He doesn’t remember that anymore.
He doesn’t remember many things.
Sophie graduated from nursing school two years ago.
