Many years after the end of the war, Jimmy Cross visits Tim O'Brien at O'Brien's house. They reminisce, drink coffee, and look at old photographs of their time together. When they spot a photo of Ted Lavender, Jimmy mentions that he's never forgiven himself for Lavender's death. O'Brien responds that he feels that way about other things. Eventually, O'Brien feels like the mood has lightened enough for him to ask about Cross’s complicated relationship with a woman named Martha. Cross stands up and returns with a picture of Martha playing volleyball. Cross asks if O'Brien remembers the picture, and O'Brien says he thought Cross had burned it. Cross says that Martha gave him a new one at their college reunion in 1979 after he told her he still
