I saw the dress hanging on display, and I told my mom it was the dress I wanted Madeline to wear for our annual Easter brunch. She grabbed the hanger and bought it for her granddaughter.

A few days later, Madeline was invited to a birthday party. I put her in the yellow dress, even though I knew my mom would be peeved. I just wanted her to look pretty. Pretty dresses are made to be worn.

Maddie & the guitar

The color suited her happy personality. It made her eyes pop, and her hair look lighter. It was perfect.

hi!

I am so happy she wore it.

The first week after she was gone, the dress went everywhere I did. I clung to it and breathed in. It smelled like her, like baby wash and sunscreen and…something else I can’t put my finger on. Just HER. It smelled like her.

I realized the smell was going to go away if I wasn’t careful, so I gently folded it and put it in a sealed bag. I couldn’t bear the thought that her scent might disappear along with her.

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Yesterday I bought it out, and let Annabel look at, touch, and smell it. We looked closely at the details on the dress.

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We both gently touched the bows.

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We ran the hem through our fingers.

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After I pressed the dress to my face and breathed in, Annabel did the same. And she smiled.

And I smiled.

Then I carefully put the yellow dress back in its bag.