#138

burned but not broken, she ran a gloved finger over it, removing ash and smoke. the whole house was burned to foundation and not much remained other than thick odor and charred leftovers of all the things a suburban home should hold.
but this... this was something extraordinary. this was the only thing she wanted.
cleaning it proved harder than she expected. each edge of the five pointed star needed her full attention. finally, gold shone through. no trace of earth or ash remained.

she walked into the nursing home and found her mother. she sat in front of the window, where she always was.

pressing the congressional medal honor into her mother's wrinkled hand, both women knew this was all that would remain.