She wore it once then hung it up,
telling herself that she was happy enough without it,
that to ask for anything more would be a dangerous prayer
that God might answer.
She was afraid that she would burn if she left it on,
although the tag specifically said
that it would burn  if it wasn’t worn.
All those years she was turning heads
with older garments from the newest stores
the forgotten dress smoldered inside her closet
like a fire that burns in water,
like a. ghost trapped on a hangar.
It was her raiment that needed her body to keep its form.
To burn on her in the highest fashion.