I made my little sister’s graduation dress—after the ceremony, our parents’ attorney gave me an envelope that revealed a secret they left behind for me.

playing tricks, I told myself.
Bills made ghosts out of shadows.
Nothing more, I said.
Nothing more.

I worked the brush through her tangles the way our mother used to.

Small feet padded across linoleum behind me.
Mia appeared in oversized pajamas, hair sticking everywhere, holding her rabbit by one ear.

“Noah, is my dress almost done?”

“Almost, peanut.
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