cnu-At my fortieth birthday party, my sister swung a baseball bat into…

years.

The number landed heavily.

Not happily. Not cleanly. But firmly.

Derek put an arm around me. Emma leaned against my shoulder.

“Is it over?” she whispered.

I looked at Vanessa, at my parents, at the family who had chosen the attacker and called it love.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s over.”

We left through a side door while my mother’s voice echoed behind us,continue reading …