Chapter 6: Eyes of the Dead

The men didn’t want to give up the best plot, so William sighed: "Fine—bury her in the Rhinoceros Gazing at Moon plot, down by the creek. Her closest kin must pierce her eyes, so she can’t recognize faces in the afterlife."

No one wanted to do it. They shoved me forward: "She’s your mother—do it!"

They kicked me until I coughed blood onto the grass. My hands shook so hard I nearly dropped the knife. I wanted to run, to scream, but all I could do was stare at the woman who once brushed my hair with her fingers, gentle as river grass.

She smiled at me, calm and peaceful, even in death.

I knew she wanted me to be the one to close her eyes.