Her vitiligo had become more noticeable that year.
White patches spread across her fingers, around one
eye, and along her neck.
Sophie had started asking why her skin looked different.
At a family gathering, an older relative suggested covering the patches with makeup for pictures.
Before I could respond, Amanda had spoken.
“Absolutely not. Sophie doesn’t need to hide anything.”
That afternoon, Amanda took a photograph of herself kissing Sophie’s cheek.
I had printed it alongside a picture of the handwritten message Amanda had put on the back.
I held the page toward her.
“Read what you wrote.”
Amanda didn’t move.
So I read it aloud.
“No matter how much you change, you’ll always be my beautiful girl. Love, Aunt Amanda.”
Travis looked at his bride.
“You wrote that?”
She nodded.
“Then what happened?” he asked.
Amanda’s eyes filled with tears.
“Nothing happened. I love Sophie.”
