“I wanted to surprise you when I could finally see your face.”

His voice became unsteady.

“Can you see me right now?”

I nodded.

“Your face is still blurry.”

He covered his mouth.

“But I can tell you’re crying.”

For a moment, he simply stared at me.

Then he started laughing through his tears.

“Sutton, I’ve been hoping for this for two years.”

He moved beside me and wrapped his arms around me.

We held each other for a long time.

When he finally pulled back, I gently touched his cheek.

“You have more wrinkles than I remember.”

He laughed.

“Seriously?”

“And I think your hair’s gotten thinner.”

“Sutton, I missed your sense of humor, but I could have waited a little longer for that part.”

For the first time in months, we laughed together.

Then his expression turned serious.

“There’s something else I want you to read.”