CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX – BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING

Jasmine's voice broke as she continued, "And now, standing here, I can't help but think of all the lives Gordon touched, all the people he helped. His legacy lives on in each of us, in the lessons he taught us, in the memories we share..." She looked out at the sea of faces, many of them wet with tears. Gordon's family sat in the front row, clinging to each other for support. "To Gordon's family, I want to say thank you. Thank you for sharing him with the world. For raising a man of such integrity, compassion, and courage. Gordon made the world a better place, and we are all better for having known him." Jasmine paused, taking a shaky breath. "I wish... I wish I had told Gordon how much he meant to me. How much I valued his friendship, his partnership. I wish I had one more chance to say goodbye, to tell him..." She trailed off, overcome with emotion. After a moment, she gathered herself and continued. "But I know that Gordon wouldn't want us to dwell on regrets. He'd want us to c