Demolition Before the Bloom

of tarnished silver hit the marble. It skittered across the polished surface, reflecting the light of the chandeliers in rapid, flashing bursts as it spun.

It was a military medal. A Silver Star, hung from a faded, frayed ribbon.

It had belonged to her late father, Samuel Clark. He had been a quiet, broken man who worked double shifts at a lumber yard continue reading …