I had spent years learning how to enter restaurants, stores, family gatherings, and church buildings without reacting to the first glance people gave my scars.
Some looked away too fast.
Some stared too long.
Some became aggressively cheerful, as though kindness had to be performed at full volume around me.
I had learned to let most of it pass.
But this was different.
This was my sister.
And I had come because she asked me to come.
I put my hands back on the wheels of my chair.
“I should go,” I said.
Emily exhaled as if I had finally become reasonable.
Daniel heard it.
So did Margaret.
He stepped away from the altar before I could turn my chair completely toward the aisle.
“Please don’t leave yet.”
I looked up at him.
His face was pale beneath the warm church light.
“I’m not asking you to stay so anyone can stare at you,” he said. “I need to understand what just happened.”
I glanced at Emily.
