Chapter 14 - THE PANTRY WALL CAME DOWNI renovated the kitchen.
Not immediately.
At first, I wanted to destroy the wall the next day.
Sophie’s therapist advised waiting until evidence collection ended and until changes would not feel like another sudden loss.
Months later, we opened the cavity completely.
Removed obsolete ductwork.
Expanded the pantry.
Sophie watched from the doorway.
I asked:
“Do you want to help choose what goes there?”
She thought.
“Cookies.”
Of course.
We built shelves.
Snack storage.
Cereal.
Baking supplies.
Ethan insisted on a secret drawer.
I said:
“No secret child drawers.”
He rolled his eyes.
“It’s for candy.”
Fair.
The first thing Sophie placed on the new shelf was a purple cereal box.
No memorial plaque.
No preserving the blankets.
May you like
No shrine.
The wall became a pantry again.
