Chapter 14 - The Empty GraveOne year after Olivia returned, they visited the cemetery.
The stone bearing her name had been removed.
The empty grave remained.
They planted a magnolia tree.
Olivia stood silently for a long time.
Sophie placed strawberry candies beneath it.
“One for Grandma.”
Then another.
“One for Mommy who came back.”
Olivia crouched beside her.
“I'm right here.”
“I know.”
Sophie hugged her.
“That’s why you get two.”
Ethan watched them.
He wanted to say something profound.
Nothing came.
Olivia finally spoke.
“I don't forgive Celeste.”
Ethan nodded.
“You don't have to.”
“She gave me life.”
“She also abandoned you.”
“I know.”
Olivia touched the soil.
“Sometimes forgiveness sounds beautiful because people don't have to live with what happened.”
Ethan understood.
Healing did not require pretending the past was acceptable.
It required refusing to let the past own the future.
May you like
They walked home holding hands.
For once, no one was running.
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