During a Family Livestream, My Niece Snapped the Bracelet Off My Wrist

cutlery, past the hallway lined with professionally framed photographs of their best life, past the white sofa they never sat on unless they were filming. At the front door I paused and looked back once, just long enough to see Madison’s profile against the light, her mouth open in laughter, her phone raised.

Then I left.

I drove home carefully, both continue reading …