Eventually, she decided not to speculate. There were too many possible stories behind a single photograph, and she didn’t want to leap to conclusions. But somewhere inside, a seed of curiosity was beginning to take root, refusing to be dismissed.
When the veteran returned, his eyes were red but clearer. He apologized softly, saying the picture had stirred old memories. Elise nodded understandingly, waiting to see if he would offer anything more. He took a deep breath, as if weighing how much truth to share.