My knees did not want to.

I stood up anyway.

I stepped into the aisle.

I felt Damon’s stare land on me, cold as a blade, and I saw the security guards start toward the front, and I ignored all of it.

I walked straight down the center of that chapel toward my daughter’s open casket, toward the high black lace collar of the dress someone had chosen to button all the way up to her chin — and I reached for it.

And when my hand closed on the fabric, the whole room drew a breath.