Tears streamed down her cheeks. Evelyn bit her lip, whimpering softly. She blamed herself for not taking everyone with her when she had left. She blamed herself for making them leave the space because she had been afraid of the trouble. Overwhelmed by endless regret and self-reproach, her hands, still holding the wood, began to tremble.
The night passed, and two new coffins now stood in the space. Evelyn paid no mind to the blisters and calluses on her hands. She placed washed fruit on the offering table, then lit three incense sticks and set them in the censer.
Once the coffin lids were closed, Evelyn leaned against one for a while. She composed herself, washed her face in a basin of water, and pressed a hot compress to her swollen eyes.
