My Family Turned Their Backs On Me On My Birthday Until I Took Everything Back

leaves.

My grandfather had told me to take care of them, but to take care of myself first.

Seven years to honor the first half of that sentence.

Eight months to finally begin honoring the second.

Maybe someday, for Megan and my mother, a door. But this time it opens from my side, and it starts with respect, not a check.