Chapter 12: Letter of Forgiveness

The Board room under the library looked the same at nine on Monday morning, except for the pie chart.

It was on the wall screen, paused, with the words WHY THIS IS KIND above it.

Cassian stood in the doorway with his phone in his hand and watched the dean look at it.

"I'd like someone to tell me," the dean said, "why my screen is showing a slide about kindness."

Noah was already at the table.

He had on a clean white shirt and the green hoodie over it.

A manila envelope lay in front of him with the flap tucked in.

He did not look up when Cassian came in.

Norman and Britteny sat across from him, side by side, in the clothes of people who expected to be thanked.

"Cass," Norman said warmly. "We saved you a seat."

Cassian sat at the far end instead.

"Let's begin," said the dean. "Mr. Blaze. You have something for the Board?"

Noah slid the envelope across the table.

"It's a letter of forgiveness," he said. "It names all three of them. I wrote it on Thursday."

Britteny let out a small happy breath.

Norman's smile widened.

The dean read the letter twice, and handed it to the member on her right, and he read it too.

"This is generous," the dean said slowly. "Mr. Blaze, do you understand that this may end the matter?"

"I do."

"Why would you sign it?"

"Because I was asked to," Noah said. "For two weeks. By someone who worked very hard for it."

He stood up and took the ring out of his hoodie pocket.

He set it on the table and slid it down the wood until it stopped in front of Cassian.

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