Lily's Last Breath, A Marriage's End

saying she couldn't bear it. The air inside was thick with the scent of l

ple casket into the chamber. I didn't cry. I couldn't. The tears were frozen somewhere deep inside me, a solid block of ice in

hand on my shoulder. His f

his voice tight. "This is her dau

and ring, then put it to his ear. "Voicemail," he grunted, shovi

e out carrying a small, heavy box. A po

i

took the box from the man's hands. I pulled it clos

id, my voice hoarse, dire

like a lifeline. I couldn't bring myself to

aid, my voi

e on the polished floor of the funeral home, I got down on my knee

e her away from here. She's my daughter. I'm her father. It's my job to protect h

uld feel his gaze on the top of my bowe

ars. "Alright. You take her. You do what you need to do

he box and sobbing, the frozen block of grief inside m

. He didn't say anything else, and neith

o the home I had shared with Sarah. I needed to

ohn turned off the engine. "Do y

on the door handle. "I

my arms. As I reached the front door, I heard voices from insid

and

rozen, forced to listen to the sickeningly intimate sou

as the sun began to set, the warmth of the box slowly fading, listening to the sounds of my wife betraying me in the house where our daughter took her first steps, said her fi