On Christmas

should have told you years ago.”

My hand tightened around the phone.

“Told me what?”

There was a pause.

“Your parents have done this before.”

The room seemed to shrink.

“What are you talking about?”

“When you were little,” she whispered, “they locked you out too.”

I felt the floor disappear beneath me.

Memories are strange. Some live clearly inside you. Others continue reading …