Chapter 13 - The Photographer
Mae Chen—the actual wedding photographer—asked to meet us.
She brought contact sheets.
Not because we wanted to relive the reception.
Because Bram wanted to know whether he was in any photographs.
He was.
Laughing with Julian.
Watching musicians.
Holding a strawberry.
Elowen fixing his bow tie.
Then one image captured Cordelia’s hands on the wheelchair handles.
Bram’s hands against the wheel rims.
His face turned downward.
Mae had stopped shooting seconds later when she realized something was wrong.
She told him:
“I took a lot of pictures before that.”
Bram asked:
“Chair in them?”
“Yes.”
“Did it ruin?”
“No.”
Mae opened another image.
Bram and Elowen under the oak tree.
Wheelchair fully visible.
Beautiful.
Not because disability had been turned into inspiration.
Because a mother and child were laughing.
Bram looked for a long time.
Then:
“I like Mom’s hair.”
Elowen laughed.
May you like
So did I.
Children often rescue adults from symbolism by caring about something completely different.
