The Christmas I Was Told I Didn’t Belong

of bank statements in my fireplace.

Watched the paper curl and blacken.

Poured myself a drink.

“Merry Christmas,” I said to the empty room.

I slept better than I had in years.

And I had no idea that within forty-eight hours, my phone would explode with missed calls.

Eighteen of them.

That’s when I knew something had gone terribly wrong.

CONTINUE READING…