On Christmas

hide behind walls your mind builds because the truth is too heavy for a child to carry.

But when Aunt Susan said those words, something cracked.

A porch light.

Cold cement under bare feet.

My mother’s voice through a door.

Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.

I sat down slowly.

“I don’t remember.”

“I know,” Susan said. “You were four the worst continue reading …