Nova wiped her cheeks.
“Some people wanted me to stop saying Lily’s name because it made them uncomfortable. But grief isn’t bad manners. I painted her because loving her changed me. Losing her changed me too. This is the part of me named Lily.”
Elaine looked around, waiting for someone to rescue her from the silence.
No one did.
Then the room began to clap.
Nova broke.
I went to her.
“May I?”
She nodded.
I hugged her, and she collapsed against me.…continue reading …
