The Envelope That Changed Everything

was enough, a soft wash across wood grain and the edge of a legal pad I’d left out the night before.

My phone lay faceup beside it.

It had been vibrating on and off since I got home last night.

Michael.

Michael again.

A number I didn’t recognize.

Another number I didn’t recognize.

A text from someone labeled “Aunt Carol” with a paragraph of frantic punctuation continue reading …