It had stayed right here in this house, packed in dried lavender, for my whole grown-up life.

I lifted the gown by its shoulders.

The satin was soft and very cold against my rough hands.

The tiny pearl buttons caught the light.

I had bought that dress out of a mail-order catalog with my own money when I was seventeen.

I paid for it with coins from a jar I kept under my bed.

I folded the long white skirt in half.

I folded the little sleeves across the front.