They Called Me A Nobody—Until Someone Said “Welcome Back, General”

see if the blade still cut, to test whether I’d bleed the way I used to.

I set my fork down carefully, buying myself a moment to breathe. “I’m doing fine,” I said, my voice level.

Dad lifted his eyebrows, his face flushing slightly from the alcohol. “Fine,” he repeated, louder now, projecting for the whole table. “Fine is what people say when they don’t continue reading …