Everyone chose the same picture as their favorite.
Patricia was soaked.
My veil was crooked.
Derek was laughing.
Lily stood proudly in her pink dress, every pale patch completely visible.
I ordered the largest print available.
Three days later, Patricia called.
“Claire?”
“Yes?”
“Could you order me a copy?”
I smiled.
“Of the perfect one?”
She sighed.
“No.”
Then she said quietly:
“The real one.”
For years, I had believed keeping the peace was what held families together.
But Lily taught me something better.
Sometimes love means refusing to stay quiet when someone you care about is made to feel smaller.
And sometimes the most beautiful family picture is the one where nobody is hiding.
