The Languages Lost: Six Days in April Summary

Celia searches through Felicia's old belongings and finds her old black bathing suit. She recalls her daughter searching for and arranging the shells on the beach.

The day before, Celia goes to Felicia's house and collects all of her things, finding a note that requests she is buried as a santera. They bury her with seashells on her breast and other items important to her religion. After they are finished with the body, the terrible ailments that had plagued her — the wrinkled skin, blind eyes, lumpy skull — have disappeared. A block before the church, Felicia's car breaks down and the pallbearers have to carry her coffin the rest of the way. Remembering all of this, Celia undresses, looking at herself in the mirror. There is nothing on her body...