I walked out of the fitting room and stood in front of the big full-length mirror near the register.

Max’s laughter on the sidewalk kept ringing in my ears, sharp and loud.

“Nobody would ever want you,” he had said.

“That one looks like a bathrobe,” Lily said quietly from her bench, her voice flat.

I took the navy dress off and handed all three dresses back to the young clerk behind the counter.

“None of these will work today,” I said.

“We have a new shipment coming in Tuesday morning,” the clerk said, holding the hangers.