I only had to protect what was true.

Then decide what belonged to me after that.

I slipped the grocery list deeper into my pocket.

Tomorrow would bring another bill.

Another maintenance issue.

Maybe another letter from an attorney.

Maybe a phone call I didn’t want.

But none of those things were happening yet.

Today I needed milk.

Bread.

Coffee.

Soap.

I walked toward the Buick.

And for the first time since I had come home carrying white lilies, that was enough.