My Parents Went to Aspen for Christmas Without Me—So I Rehomed the Dog and Kept the Paperwork

you got promoted again. Congratulations! Want to grab dinner this week to celebrate?”

I smiled and typed back: “Yes. And thank you. For everything.”

The sun was setting behind the city skyline, painting everything in shades of gold and amber. In the apartment next door, I could hear my neighbor playing piano—something classical and beautiful that I didn’t continue reading …