Epilogue
Six months later
Phillip stood at the edge of the lake near his home, holding his cane in his hands. Graham stood beside him. They didn’t speak for a long time, but rather listened to the wind rustling in the distant trees and the chatting birds. A fox cried out from somewhere in the forest. The summer sun warmed the water, and light sparkled off the lake’s surface.
“Graham, I wanted to apologize again for that night we quarreled,” Phillip said. “I said things that were untrue and unfair because I was trying to hide my own flaws.” He rolled his cane in his palms, watching the light flash off the silver knob.
Graham nodded. “I know. But you weren’t entirely false. I am a selfish bastard. Charles kept my family together, raising Ella and protecting our mother after our father di
