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“Nora—”

I push it gently towards him.

“This is the part of his life he shared with you.”

Jude's expression changes.

“With all of you,” I add, looking around at the Hawthornes before turning back to him. “You were his brother.”

His jaw tightens, and I swallow past the knot in my throat.

“I didn't know the sixteen-year-old who rode horses with you and jumped off this treehouse and drove your parents insane.”

“He definitely did that,” Josh mutters.

I smile through my tears.

“I knew the man he became.” I look back at Jude. “You knew the boy.”

Jude's eyes drop to the urn again.

“You loved that part of him too. So I think this goodbye belongs to you.”

He stares at me for a long moment.

“You sure?”

I nod. “I'm sure.”

Slowly, he reaches out and takes the urn from my hands.

He looks down at the urn, then slowly opens the lid and takes some of the ashes into his palm.

He closes his eyes.

“Until we meet again, brother.”

When he opens his hand, the wind catches the ashes and carries them out over the lake. I watch them drift across the water, imagining the years that will pass here. Trees will grow, flowers will bloom, and one day, other children and teenagers will come to this place and make memories of their own. Somehow, Damiano will be a part of it all.

I look around at the family gathered beside me, and there isn't a dry eye among us.

I stopped trying to fight this pain the day I broke down in that rage room. I decided then that I would let myself feel it, even when it hurt so much that I could barely breathe. So I don't try to hold back my tears now. I let them fall as we stand together, looking out over the lake.

“I miss you,” I whisper.

Chiara's arms come around me, and I lean my head against her shoulder. She holds me while we watch the water, and the others stay close, giving us time without trying to fill the silence or find words that might somehow make this easier.

Eventually, we settle along the shore, and Lily pulls out sandwiches and sodas for everyone. Some of us sit on fallen tree trunks while others make themselves comfortable on the rocks surrounding the lake. We eat, passing food and drinks around, and for a while, a peaceful silence settles over us.

Then Dex suddenly sits up.

“Oh shit. Remember that song?”

Jude's expression changes immediately. “No.”

"You must remember it."

“Don't.”