The room fell quiet. The auctioneer looked at her with an aching gentleness. “How much, sweetheart?” Lily held the jar up. “Fifty-two dollars and sixteen cents.”
A snide laugh broke the silence. Vince smirked. The auctioneer crouched, taking the jar as if it were a treasure. “Thank you,” he said softly.
But then he shook his head. “It’s not enough.”
Max whined — low, long, and painful. The sound echoed, touching something deep inside the crowd.
Lily wanted to run, to disappear under all the watching eyes. But as she turned, Max barked — loud and clear, a command that cut through the noise.
Everything stilled. And in that moment, Lily understood: she wasn’t just trying to buy a dog. She was reaching for the last real part of her mother, the one piece still breathing.
