I spun around so fast my cap tumbled off. The man standing there wore a dark green uniform, his face thinner than I remembered, his eyes red. “Caleb?” I whispered. My older brother had stormed out after a fight with Dad more than a year ago and never answered a single call. The crowd had gone quiet, and I could feel every stranger staring.

“I’m so sorry, Josie,” he said, his voice cracking. “I didn’t get the news about Mom and Dad until three weeks ago.” Then he pulled a crumpled envelope from his jacket, addressed in Grandma’s shaky handwriting. “She told me something in this letter, and I need you to hear it before we leave this stage.” My hands began to tremble. My heart pounded.