I Donated My Late Daughter's Prom Dress Twenty Years Ago – Last Week, Someone Knocked on My Door Wearing It

"Not a journal entry."

***

A week later, I folded the letter and placed it against the gown before packing the dress for donation.

I must've pushed it beneath the lining without thinking.

Now I sat at my kitchen table and read every word.

By the end, tears had spotted the page.

I called Dr. Kim.

"A woman found the letter inside the dress," I told her.

By the end, tears had spotted the page.

"How much did she read?"

"Enough to come to my house."

I looked down at the page.

"I wrote that Teresa died waiting for me."

"You believed what you were told."

"What does that mean?"

"I wrote that Teresa died waiting for me."

"Grief fills empty spaces, Olivia. Now you must decide what you need."

***

After we ended the call, I called Tanya, Phoebe, and Holly.

They arrived within an hour.

Holly hugged me, Tanya remained near the counter, and Phoebe kept her coat on.

"A woman came here wearing Teresa's prom dress," I said, placing the letter on the table. "She found this inside."

"You wrote to Teresa?" Holly asked.

"Dr. Kim asked me to four years after the accident."

"Grief fills empty spaces, Olivia."

Tanya looked at Phoebe.

The look lasted less than a second, but I saw it.

"What was that?"

Tanya frowned. "What?"

"That look."

"I didn't..."

"Don't."

"What was that?"

My voice stopped her.

Phoebe removed her coat.

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