Her little button nose and childlike, heart-shaped face had always gotten her stopped going into PG-13 movies, even after she’d gotten her driver’s license. She had a dusting of freckles everywhere, seemingly random, but one time we connected them all with washable makers and found they formed all kinds of constellations on her skin.
“Do you remember at my tenth birthday party, when I fell down the stairs and everyone saw my underwear?” I asked quietly, leaning forward over the side of the casket. I knew her father could hear me, but these were the words coming out of my mouth. I couldn’t have stopped them if I tried. “You were so angry that everyone laughed that you lifted up your dress and yelled, ‘Haven’t you ever seen panties before?’ You were embarrassed afterwards, but I thought it
