Chapter 24 - THE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHMia graduated from college with a degree in documentary ethics.
Leo studied child psychology.
At Mia’s graduation, we took a family photograph.
Sophia’s sister Claire stood beside us.
Hannah stood near me.
Mia chose the arrangement.
No photographer ordered family closer.
She placed Sophia’s framed photograph on an empty chair.
Not because the dead needed to appear alive.
Because absence remained part of the family.
Before the picture, Mia inspected the back of the frame.
Leo teased her.
“Looking for an ear?”
She smiled.
“Looking because I can.”
Then she placed it down.
The camera captured all of us laughing.
No hidden audience watched.
No one selected the image later to prove instability.
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Mia owned the original file.
She decided where it appeared.
