Wiping the Death Off

A story on family, a funeral, and lipstick

Photo by Meruyert Gonullu from Pexels

The first time my grandmother wore lipstick was a week after her death. The smell of vanilla candles floated through the red velvet carpeted room, where I avoided looking at the front of the room where my grandmother’s casket was placed.

“Why did they put lipstick on her?” my mother asked to no one in particular.