I unfolded the pages under the dim restaurant light, and my breath caught. They were medical test results, and Ethan’s name sat at the top. Beneath it, a doctor’s note used the words “hereditary condition” and “family donor needed.” My hands trembled. Lauren whispered, “Ethan has a kidney disease, and he has known for months. He did not want you to worry.”

I read the last page and my knees weakened. It was a donor compatibility report, and the only match was Gordon. “That is why he called his father,” Lauren said, tears gathering. “And that is why he did not want you at graduation. He feared you would see the two of them together and guess before he was ready.” Across the room, Ethan looked up and saw us holding the pages. His face went white.