THE DEPARTURE GATE

Five years passed.

The Ogeechee River Guild expanded to include *The Thomas & Margaret Vance Center for Book Arts & Public Literacy*—a non-profit educational sanctuary providing free, accredited apprenticeships in rare book preservation, traditional printmaking, and literacy training for young people from economically disadvantaged rural communities across the American South.

Over fifty apprentices lived on the campus every year, studying in light-filled timber studios, making paper from sustainable agricultural fibers, and restoring historical library collections for rural public schools throughout the country.

Bradley had completed his master certification in historical binding, serving as the guild’s full-time director of apprentice education. He spent his days teaching young students how to sew headbands with silk thread, his life transformed into an unceasing, quiet offering of service to the preservation of human memory.

On a warm, sunny morning in June, the bindery floor was alive with the sweet scent of cedar shavings, beeswax, and the sound of children's laughter.

Sitting in a pile of clean leather trimmings beside the standing press was four-year-old Thomas—Bradley and Clara’s son—named in memory of the grandfather whose tools had built the sanctuary.

Little Thomas wore tiny canvas overalls, holding a small wooden bone folder, carefully smoothing down a piece of handmade cotton paper against a pine board.

""Grandma Margaret! Look!"" the boy shouted, holding up the smooth sheet with both hands. ""No wrinkles! It’s flat like the river!""

Margaret knelt down beside the boy, taking the paper with her gentle, capable hands, inspecting the watermark with a proud, loving smile.

""That is master-grade papermaking, Thomas,"" Margaret smiled, gently kissing his forehead. ""Just like your father taught you.""

Clara walked into the workshop carrying a basket of fresh red peaches from the orchard, her face glowing with radiant health. She leaned against the heavy maple workbench, resting her hand over her abdomen where their second child was growing beneath the warm morning light.