She was right, which was annoying.
Then she reached for me.
I bent down and hugged her.
“You know we’re okay, right?” she whispered.
“I know.”
“No. Actually know it.”
I pulled back.
Brielle smiled.
“You got us here.”
I shook my head.
“You two got yourselves here.”
“Yeah, but you kept the road clear.”
“That sounds dangerously emotional.”
“Please leave before I regret saying it.”
I laughed all the way to the elevator.
That night, I walked into an empty house for the first time in twelve years.
There were no wheelchairs beside the kitchen table.
No voices arguing from down the hall.
No one asking whether I’d remembered to buy the right cereal.
I stood in the middle of the living room and hated every second of it.
I also knew it was exactly what was supposed to happen.
A week later, both girls video-called me.
