I kissed my wife’s cold forehead inside the coffin… and when I opened her closed hand, I found a navy blue button ripped off. I recognized it instantly: it was from my brother Rodrigo’s jacket.

Her shout made the staff in the room step back, but I ignored her.

Then I saw what Camila had been holding.

A small dark button, torn off by force.

Under her nails was a thin thread of navy-blue fabric.

My mother was wearing black.