“… and I’m reminded of how long I lived,
resentfully unaware
of how much joy I often brought to

my parents …”

“… As toddlers

my sister and I might be bathed inside mop buckets—

a routine I dared not share outside our neighborhoods …”

“…  I wondered if it was actually her parents on the phone, but it wasn’t. It was Bryanna’s mother’s mother checking to see if Bryanna had showed up. She, Bryanna, was supposed to call once she arrived at Fortune’s place; Bry had supposedly sped recklessly out of the driveway and had her mom was a little worried. Fortune told Bry’s mom that everyone—everything—was okay and that Bryanna would call her in the morning. Bryanna and I had overheard the phone conversation and we both decided that none of us needed any more personal drama that evening. …”