I reached out to the letter,s. but my fingers were shaking so hard that I couldn’t get it. Luke noticed and gently pushed the glass of water towards me, while Matteo sat in the chair to my right.

We were all scared, Cristina.

• Yes. But fear doesn’t justify everything.

I agreed slowly.

• No.

Cristina wiped her eyes.

Laura would have been grateful to have loved her children.

I carried my hand to my chest.

It was the first time Laura’s sister had called me that.

I hope I whispered.

• I’m sure.

That afternoon, we opened the album with photos together.

In one of the pictures, Laura was holding two identically dressed babies with blue hats.
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In another, Marco kissed her on the forehead, and she was laughing.

I looked at the photos without jealousy, without that oppressive sadness that I had sometimes felt at first.
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Laura was an essential part of the boys’ lives.