My Mom Called Asking When I Was Coming Back for the Baby Until I Realized Mine Was Already With Me

in the dark.

Not because they wanted help.

Because they wanted confusion.

“We need to call the police,” my mother said.

“Yes.”

The word came out flat and cold and almost calm in the way that fear can be almost calm when it has burned through everything softer and left only what is necessary.

I pulled out my phone, but before I could dial, Ava opened her continue reading …