parents, but received no reply. I was his fiancée, not his next of kin, and no official notification ever reached me.
Later, I would understand that the military’s records had changed while my information had not. I had mistaken the silence around me for an answer.
After a while, I couldn’t bear another disappointment. I stopped looking.
I finished school. I taught English. I traveled when I could and became the aunt who brought ridiculous birthday presents.
A few men asked me out. Some were kind said.
“I know. I’m
